Mega Millions and Powerball Jackpots Are Close to a Billion Dollars
BALTIMORE (CBSLocal) – Nearly a billion dollars in jackpot money is up for grabs between the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries.
The MEGA Millions jackpot is expected to be $654 million Tuesday night– just $2 million shy of the record jackpot won on March 30, 2012. Ticket sales ahead of the drawing could make it a record payout.
The last time anyone matched the five white balls and golden MEGA ball was July 24. Eleven co-workers from California shared that $543 million jackpot.
If anyone matches all of the winning numbers Tuesday night they have the option to take the lump sum cash option worth $372.6 million.
Here's what you need to know before the 8 pm (Pacific time) drawing:
- Tickets cost $2 per play
- Players pick 6 numbers- the first 5 range from 1-70; the MEGA Ball is 1-25
- Players can choose their own numbers or select Easy Pick/Quick Pick
- Winners can get paid in 2 ways: Annuity (1 immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments), or Cash (one-time, lump-sum payment)
- The "draw entry" closes at 7:45 pm (Pacific time)
- The numbers are picked at 8 pm (Pacific time)
- The overall odds of winning any MEGA Millions prize is about 1 in 24
- The overall odds of winning the MEGA Millions jackpot is about 1 in 303 million
The POWERBALL drawing takes place Wednesday and is worth an estimated $345 million, with a cash value of $199 million.
Here's what you need to know before the 10:59 pm (eastern time) drawing
- Tickets cost $2 per play
- Players pick 6 numbers- the first 5 range from 1-69; the POWERBALL ranges from 1-26
- Players can choose their own numbers or select Quick Pick
- The "draw entry" closes at 7 pm (Pacific time)
- The numbers are picked at 7:59 pm (Pacific time)
- The overall odds of winning any POWERBALL jackpot is about 1 in 25
- The overall odds of winning the POWERBALL jackpot is about 1 in 292 million
Follow @WJZ on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook