My, oh my, the Mega Millions jackpot is getting sky-high.
For the seventh time in Mega Millions history, the big payout has eclipsed half a billion dollars. The estimated jackpot stands at $530 million. For those who prefer the lump sum payment, hitting on all of tonight’s winning numbers results in $343.9 million.
The seventh-largest jackpot in the draw game’s history begins today at 11 p.m. ET. Check back here for the winning numbers:
Winning numbers: 17-19-27-40-68
Mega Ball: 2
Megaplier: 3X
The days of laboriously leafing through tickets in search of a winner are over. Simply downloading the PA Lottery mobile app allows customers to scan their tickets and quickly determine if they have the golden ticket.
Mega Millions jackpot ramping up
With each passing Mega Millions that goes without a jackpot winner, the top prize continues to increase.
Should Friday’s drawing not feature a winner, the Mega Millions jackpot will likely jump to among the top four prizes in the game’s history.
Here is the updated list of the top six Mega Millions prizes ever awarded:
- Oct. 23, 2018: $1.537 billion
- March 30, 2012: $656 million
- Dec. 17, 2013: $648 million
- July 24, 2018: $543 million
- July 8, 2016: $536 million
- March 30, 2018: $533 million
PA Lottery winners went big in May
Scratch-offs remain a popular choice among PA Lottery players.
Drew Svitko, the lotto’s executive director, has estimated that about 70% of annual revenue for the lottery stems from scratch-off sales.
While the PA Lottery certainly benefits from these transactions, Pennsylvanians have reaped the rewards, as well.
The lottery announced this week that scratch-off winners in May claimed $188,629,477 in prizes. That includes a $3 million payout to a player in Lackawanna County and three prizes worth $1 million paid to players from Allegheny, Lycoming, and Lancaster counties.
Additionally, according to the PA Lottery, May featured 22 other big prizes:
- Five prizes worth $300,000
- Two prizes worth $250,000
- 15 prizes worth $100,000
The month’s winnings of more than $188 million is the state’s highest total since March 2018. That month, the PA Lottery paid out more than $189.7 million in scratch-off prizes.
As for Mega Millions, odds are…
The dream of becoming one of the winningest Mega Millions winners ever persists for many. Certainly joining one South Carolina player as the only billion-dollar winners in the game’s history would be life-changing.
Although, even winning now, becoming a half-billion dollar winner, would have that effect.
Odds of doing so are slim, obviously. They became slimmer in October 2017. Regardless, hope springs eternal. And plenty of other cash prizes are up for grabs.
Here is a look at the odds of claiming Mega Millions prizes:
| # of matching white balls | # of matching yellow balls | Prize amount | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | Jackpot | 1 in 302,575,350 |
| 5 | 0 | $1,000,000 | 1 in 12,607,306 |
| 4 | 1 | $10,000 | 1 in 931,001 |
| 4 | 0 | $500 | 1 in 38,792 |
| 3 | 1 | $200 | 1 in 14,547 |
| 3 | 0 | $10 | 1 in 606 |
| 2 | 1 | $10 | 1 in 693 |
| 1 | 1 | $4 | 1 in 89 |
| 1 | 0 | $2 | 1 in 37 |
| Overall chance of a prize | 1 in 24 |
