After no Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot winners were announced on Friday, potential winnings increased ahead of Monday night’s drawing.
The combined winnings of the two popular games amount to $1.9 billion, with the Mega Millions winnings topping at $1.1 billion and the Powerball jackpot prize now reaching $800 million.
If a winner is announced on March 26, the Mega Millions jackpot would be the fifth largest prize in the game’s history after 30 straight drawings without a winning ticket, per a Mega Millions press release. The most recent Mega Millions win was on December 8, when two ticket holders in California guessed the correct numbers, splitting $394 million, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“Mega Millions is the only lottery game that has now ventured into billion-dollar territory six times,” according to the press release. “To date, five jackpots exceeding $1 billion have been awarded — all in different states.”
“Lottery fever continues to spread throughout the country,” said Georgia Lottery president and CEO Gretchen Corbin, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, in the press release.
“Large jackpots provide entertainment and winnings for our players nationwide while contributing to the beneficiary programs funded by each lottery. We appreciate our players and dedicated retailers, and we encourage everyone to play responsibly,” Corbin added.
Similarly, according to a Powerball press release, there have been 35 consecutive Powerball drawings without a winning ticket.
“The Powerball jackpot is quickly climbing the rankings as one of the game’s largest,” per the press release. “The Powerball jackpot is now estimated at $800 million for the next drawing on Monday night, making it the sixth-largest prize in the history of the game.”
The next chance to play for the Powerball jackpot is March 25. Winners will choose between an annuitized prize worth $800 million or a lump sum payment estimated at $384.8 million.
Powerball tickets are $2 per play; the odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9, per the press release. Drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from the Florida Lottery draw studio and live-streamed on Powerball.com.
Mega Millions tickets cost just $2 each, and drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday. According to the press release, the odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.
