Mega Millions Jackpot is $290 Million, Eighth Largest in Game History
Middletown – Excitement is building for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing, which is the eighth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history with an estimated annuity value of $290 million. The jackpot’s lump-sum cash value is $207.8 million.
If a single jackpot-winning ticket is purchased in Pennsylvania for the March 23 drawing, it would be the largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery.
“Large jackpots always generate a lot of excitement as people take advantage of the opportunity to ‘dream Mega’ and have fun anticipating the potential impact of a multi-million-dollar jackpot,” Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Todd Rucci said. “We advise players to buy their Mega Millions tickets early to avoid the last-minute rush.”
Rucci encouraged players to remember to play responsibly.
Tickets for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing will be available until 9:59 p.m. at more than 9,000 Lottery retailers statewide.
“What’s most exciting to us is that $24.8 million in sales for this Mega Millions run have generated more than $7.4 million in funding for programs benefiting Pennsylvania’s older residents,” Rucci said.
The current Mega Millions jackpot run began Friday, Jan. 27. There have been 16 draws without a jackpot winner, and tonight’s drawing is the 17th in the current run.
The largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery is a $115.5 million Super 7 jackpot from the April 26, 1989, drawing that was shared among 14 winning tickets. The largest Pennsylvania Lottery prize awarded to a single winning ticket was the $110.3 million Powerball jackpot from May 8, 2004, claimed by a New Jersey couple.
While Pennsylvania has yet to have a Mega Millions jackpot winner, eight tickets worth $250,000 each were sold in Pennsylvania so far this year for matching five white balls. Additionally, one Pennsylvania player won a $1 million match-five prize by purchasing the Megaplier this year.
How to Play Mega Millions: Mega Millions tickets cost $1 per play. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 56 and one number from 1 to 46 (the Mega Ball). Players can pick their own numbers or have numbers randomly selected by computer. For an extra $1 per play, players can add the Megaplier. Prior to the Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier number – ranging from two to four – is randomly selected.
A player who matches five white balls and purchased Megaplier wins $1 million. Other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Megaplier number drawn.
Mega Millions tickets are sold in 44 participating jurisdictions. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.
About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed nearly $21.5 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.
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