Could the numbers drawn for Mega Millions have made you a $166 million jackpot winner from Friday's draw?
The Mega Millions lottery is back with an estimated jackpot of $166 million, set to be drawn on Friday. The game, offered in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, promises exciting opportunities for players, with improved odds and a built-in multiplier feature.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot—matching all five white balls plus the Mega Ball—are approximately 1 in 290,472,336 under the current game rules. This improved odds figure reflects recent game changes reducing the odds from about 1 in 303 million to 1 in 290 million.
For those fortunate enough to hit the jackpot, they will have two payment options: an annuity option or a cash lump sum. The annuity option offers 30 graduated yearly payments over 29 years, with each payment five percent higher than the last. Alternatively, the cash option provides a one-time payment, which is less than the advertised jackpot amount.
The ticket price for Mega Millions is now $5 per play, including the built-in multiplier feature at no extra cost. This multiplier (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x) applies to all non-jackpot prizes, enhancing the lower-tier prize amounts.
Key details:
- Jackpot odds: 1 in 290,472,336
- Ticket cost: $5 (includes multiplier)
- Starting jackpot: $50 million
- Jackpot draws: Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00 pm MT / 7:59 pm PT
- Jackpot payout options: Annuity (30 payments) or Cash lump sum
- Multiplier feature: Applies to non-jackpot prizes automatically at no extra charge (2X to 10X)
- Prize growth: Jackpots grow faster and bigger jackpots are more frequent now
The Mega Millions jackpot has been on a steady rise since someone won a $344 million prize on March 25. If no one wins the jackpot, it climbs higher for the next drawing, making the potential payout even more enticing.
Players pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers: five different numbers from 1 to 70 and one number from 1 to 25. An alternative to picking numbers is selecting Easy Pick. Mega Millions drawings take place on Tuesdays and Fridays.
For those interested in trying their luck, tickets for Mega Millions cost $5 each. The winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing on Friday were: 02-06-08-14-49; Mega Ball: 12. The winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing on Tuesday are yet to be announced.
Remember, the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are incredibly low, but the potential payout is immense. So why not give it a try? Good luck!
Some players might find the excitement of casino-and-gambling at a whole new level with the Mega Millions lottery, offering big-wins of over $166 million at their next draw. With the ticket costing just $5 that includes the multiplier feature, lotteries like Mega Millions have become an alluring prospect for many.
