Next Mega Millions Drawing
The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Friday, July 19. The jackpot for this drawing is an estimated $226 million. The winning numbers for the previous drawing on July 16 were 5, 35, 42, 58, and 66, with a Mega Ball number of 22. The Megaplier for that drawing was 2. It is still to be determined if anyone won the jackpot.
Details of the Mega Millions Jackpot
The Mega Millions jackpot has been growing since it was last won on June 4 by a single winner from Illinois who took home $560 million. The current jackpot of $226 million is a significant amount, and players are eagerly awaiting the next drawing. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are approximately 1 in 302,575,350, making it a challenging but exciting game to play.
How to Play Mega Millions
To play Mega Millions, you need to pick six numbers. Five of these numbers are white ball numbers ranging from 1 to 70, and one is a gold Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. You can either choose your numbers or opt for a “Quick Pick” or “Easy Pick,” where the numbers are randomly generated by a computer. Each ticket costs $2. For an additional $1 per play, you can add the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or five times.
Upcoming Powerball Drawing
The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Saturday, July 20. The current Powerball jackpot stands at an estimated $865 million with a cash value of $416.1 million. The winning numbers for the previous Powerball drawing on Monday, March 25, were 7, 11, 19, 53, and 68, with a Powerball of 23 and a Power Play of 2X. No one matched all six numbers to win the jackpot on that date.
Details of the Powerball Jackpot
The Powerball jackpot has been growing since it was last won on January 1 by a single ticket in Michigan, which won $842.4 million with a cash value of $425.2 million. This was the fifth-largest total in Powerball history and the tenth-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292,201,338.
How to Play Powerball
To play Powerball, you need to pick five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. You can either choose your numbers or opt for a “Quick Pick” or “Easy Pick,” where the numbers are randomly generated by a computer. Each ticket costs $2. For an additional $1 per play, you can add the Power Play feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or five times.
Ticket Purchase Deadlines
In New York, in-store and online ticket sales for Mega Millions are available until 10 p.m. on the night of the draw. In New Jersey and Connecticut, tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. For Powerball, ticket purchase deadlines vary by state, so it is essential to check with your local lottery retailer.
Jackpot Winner Options
Winners of both Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots have two options for receiving their prize. The annuity option pays out the jackpot as one immediate payment followed by annual payments over a total of thirty years, with each payment increasing by about five percent annually to account for inflation. The cash option is a one-time lump-sum payment equal to all the cash in the jackpot prize pool. If multiple winners exist in a single drawing, they share the prize equally among all winning tickets.
Recent Lottery Trends
Lottery jackpots hitting $1 billion have become more common in recent years. Since 2016, there have been ten jackpots in the U.S. that exceeded $1 billion between Mega Millions and Powerball. Four of these occurred just last year. The highest lottery jackpot was in November 2022 when Powerball hit $2.04 billion. Other significant jackpots over $1 billion occurred in January and October of previous years.
Additional Lottery Wins
In addition to the main jackpots, there have been several notable lottery wins recently. A North Carolina man won a $100,000 lottery prize three years after winning $200,000. A Maryland man’s five identical lottery tickets earned him a total of $250,000. A lottery ticket birthday gift earned someone a $25,000 prize.
How to Increase Your Chances of Winning
While the odds of winning the jackpot are slim, there are ways to increase your chances of winning smaller prizes. Adding the Megaplier or Power Play feature to your ticket can increase non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, or five times. Additionally, playing regularly and purchasing multiple tickets can improve your chances of winning.
Where to Buy Tickets
Mega Millions and Powerball tickets can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and some airport terminals. Online orders can be placed through Jackpocket in certain U.S. states and territories, including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
Gambling Problem Resources
If you have a gambling problem, resources are available to help. In New York, you can call or text HOPE-NY (467369). In Massachusetts, call (800) 327-5050. In Oregon, call (877) MY-LIMIT. In Puerto Rico, call (800) 981-0023. For all other regions, call (800) GAMBLER. It is essential to seek help if you feel that gambling is becoming a problem.
In conclusion, the upcoming Mega Millions and Powerball drawings offer exciting opportunities for players to win life-changing amounts of money. With jackpots reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, the anticipation is high. Remember to play responsibly and good luck!
