Mega Millions Christmas Eve Jackpot Approaches $1 Billion

CONCORD, NH — Who needs a really big Christmas present?

Lottery players can grab a Mega Millions ticket through Tuesday night and have a one in 302 million chance of winning close to a billion dollars — $970 million, to be exact. Officials said the Mega Millions game has not been won since Sept. 10, when a player in Texas purchased the $810 million jackpot winner.

The game has gone 30 drawings without a winner.

If anyone wins on Tuesday, they will win the seventh-largest jackpot in the game’s history.

The one-time cash payout is expected to be about $440 million before taxes.

The Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots in history:

1. $1.602 billion: Aug. 8, 2023
2. $1.537 billion: Oct. 23, 2018
3. $1.348 billion: Jan. 13, 2023
4. $1.337 billion: July 29, 2022
5. $1.128 billion: March 26, 2024
6. $1.050 billion: Jan. 22, 2021
7. $970 million: Dec. 24 (anticipated)
8. $810 million: Sept. 10
9. $656 million: March 30, 2012
10. $648 million: Dec. 17, 2013

Mega Millions is drawn on Tuesday and Friday nights.

“There’s nothing like having a nearly billion-dollar jackpot to play for around the holidays,” Charlie McIntyre, the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery, said. “This jackpot just keeps on growing, so be sure to get your tickets so you can have a chance to win this incredible prize. Our retailers are reporting strong sales and we are seeing incredible online sales as this jackpot has continued to grow over the past few weeks. We would expect sales momentum to continue right up to the drawing tomorrow night. Good luck to all, and here’s to hoping a jackpot-winning ticket is left in a stocking hung by the chimney with care for one lucky Granite Stater.”

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