Tuesday Mega Millions Jackpot Jumps To $361 Million

Someone could begin 2018 with a big financial windfall via a jackpot worth at $361 million in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing. The jackpot for the Tuesday night drawing jumped from $343 million last week.

The increase reflects strong sales across all 46 participating jurisdictions, which include 44 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands, New York Lottery officials said.

The Powerball jackpot stands at $440 million; the next drawing is Wednesday.

Though it has been rare in the past for both lottery games to top the $300 million mark at the same time, the odds of winning are longer than in the past, so big jackpots occur more frequently.

Tickets for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. EST, New York Lottery officials said.

Mega Millions drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays. Five balls are drawn from a set numbered from 1 to 70, and one ball is drawn from a set numbered 1 through 25. Winners must match all numbers.

The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was Oct. 31, when two winners split a $43 million jackpot.

If no one matches all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in tonight’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow. The largest Mega Millions jackpot to date was $656 million for the March 30, 2012 drawing. Three players from Illinois, Kansas and Maryland split that jackpot.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot increased to 1 in 302.6 million in October, up from 1 in 258.9 million before rules changed in October. Basic ticket costs also doubled, to $2 each.

There are nine ways to win a Mega Millions prize. Overall odds of winning some kind of prize are 1 in 24.
Players who match five numbers from the first pool win $1 million; those matching four numbers from the first pool and the Gold Mega Ball number win $10,000; those matching four numbers from the first pool win $500; those matching three numbers from the first pool and the Gold Mega Ball win $200; those matching two numbers plus the Gold Mega Ball win $10; those matching one number and the Gold Mega Ball win $4; and those matching only the Gold Mega Ball win $2.

The Powerball jackpot drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Basic tickets cost $2.

There are also nine ways to win a Powerball prize. The overall odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 25.
Winning the jackpot requires matching all five numbers, plus the Powerball. Players who match five numbers win $1 million; players who match four numbers plus the Powerball win $50,000; players who match four numbers win $100; players who match three numbers plus the Powerball win $100; players who match three numbers win $7; players who match two numbers plus the Powerball win $7; players who match one number plus the Powerball win $4; and players who match only the Powerball win $4.

Here's a fun fact: The odds of winning both jackpots is a staggering 1 in 88 quadrillion.

Patch Editor Beth Dalbey wrote this article.

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