Politics & Government

Tuesday’s Mega Millions Will Be 4th Largest Lottery Jackpot In History

Update: While the estimated jackpot is expected to be $830M and $2.5M in tickets were sold last week in NH, "always play responsibly."

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The anticipated Mega Millions jackpot for July 26 will be $830 million — or the fourth highest jackpot ever in history.
The anticipated Mega Millions jackpot for July 26 will be $830 million — or the fourth highest jackpot ever in history. (New Hampshire Lottery)

Update: 1:34 p.m. on July 26: The New Hampshire Lottery said the jackpot for tonight is expected to reach $830 million with a one-time cash payout of $487.9 million before taxes.

The original post is below.

CONCORD, NH — Mega Millions keeps growing.

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There has not been a winner since mid-April, which means on Tuesday, the jackpot is expected to be very big — the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in history or about $790 million, the New Hampshire lottery said.

Last week, the state sold nearly $2.5 million tickets, which led Charlie McIntyre, the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery, to offer a bit of advice: Do not spend more than you can afford.

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“We know the anticipation and excitement have been growing with this nearly $800 million Mega Millions jackpot in the past few weeks,” Charlie McIntyre, the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery, said. “While we share our players’ excitement, I want to remind our players to always play responsibly. It is true you have to play to win — but it only takes one ticket to win.”

The odds for Mega Millions are 1 in 302,575,350. Or just about impossible. And yet, people still win, as noted by the lottery on Monday, when it released data from the Top 10 jackpots of all time — with all but one won during the past six and a half years:

  1. $1.586 billion January 13, 2016 (Powerball)
  2. $1.537 billion October 23, 2018 (Mega Millions)
  3. $1.05 billion January 22, 2021 (Mega Millions)
  4. $830 million July 26, 2022 (Mega Millions, anticipated)
  5. $768.4 million March 27, 2019 (Powerball)
  6. $758.7 million August 23, 2017 (Powerball)
  7. $731.1 million January 20, 2021 (Powerball)
  8. $699.8 million October 4, 2021 (Powerball)
  9. $687.8 million October 27, 2018 (Powerball)
  10. $656 million March 30, 2012 (Mega Millions)

Cheryl Vossen of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was able to pick five of the six numbers in last week’s drawing in Portsmouth and won $1 million.

Mega Millions drawings are Tuesdays and Friday. Play at 1,200 retailers across the state or online at the New Hampshire Lottery’s website, linked here.

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