Mega Millions Jackpot Tops $512 Million. Buy Your Tickets Now!

Start dreaming. The Mega Millions lottery game jackpot has soared to $512 million, with a cash payout of $303.4 million. In New York and others, players are grabbing up tickets, which could send the prize even higher, based on the history of the game.

If you need to find a place to purchase tickets, just visit the New York State Lottery website.

Drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Tickets for the game cost $2, or $3 with the Megaplier option. Players pick five numbers from 1-70, then pick a Mega Ball number between 1-25. They can choose “easy pick” at the retailer and the terminal will choose the number. Players win when they match all six numbers.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350. The overall chances of winning any prize are 1 in 24.

If you don’t win the jackpot, there are other ways to win:

• Match five numbers, but not the Mega Ball: $1 million prize (odds: 1 in 12,607,306);
• Match four numbers and the Mega Ball: $10,000 prize (odds: 1 in 931,001);
• Match four numbers but not the Mega Ball: $500 prize (odds: 1 in 38,792);
• Match three numbers and the Mega Ball: $200 prize (odds: 1 in 14,547);
• Match three numbers but not the Mega Ball: $10 prize (odds: 1 in 606);
• Match two numbers and the Mega Ball: $10 prize (odds: 1 in 693);
• Match one number and the Mega Ball: $4 prize (odds: 1 in 89);
• Match the Mega Ball only: Prize, $2 (Odds: 1 in 37).

More information is found on the Mega Millions website.

Come back to Patch Tuesday night for the winning numbers.

Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images