On Tuesday, September 10, the Mega Millions jackpot was an estimated $154 million. But was anyone lucky enough to win it?
The lottery numbers were drawn at 11 p.m. EST on Tuesday. The Mega Millions selected numbers were 34, 47, 48, 50, 55. The Bonus number was 24 and the Megaplier was X2.
Unfortunately, no one won the jackpot or the Match 5 last night. Three people matched four numbers, the bonus ball and the Megaplier, taking home $20,000 each, with 14 people matching four numbers and the bonus ball, banking $10,000 apiece. Visit the Mega Millions website to check your numbers.
The next draw takes place on Friday, September 13, at 11 p.m. EST. The estimated jackpot is $172 million with a cash option of $120.3 million.
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per play, according to the lottery website. Players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers; five different numbers from 1 to 70 (the white balls) and one number from 1 to 25 (the gold Mega Ball).
Players win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a draw. There are a total of nine ways to win a prize in Mega Millions, ranging from the jackpot down to $2.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, with players picking five numbers from 1 to 70, and a Mega number of 1 to 25, according to The Washington Post. The previous formula had odds of 1 in 258,890,850.
The last jackpot winner was on July 23, 2019. The name of the winner has not yet been released, although the Mega Millions website confirmed that the winning ticket was purchased in New Hampshire. The jackpot was $168 million (minus federal taxes).
If you're unsure where you can play Mega Millions, you can check the nearest store in your state. You cannot play Mega Millions in Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Alabama or Nevada.
How was the Mega Millions lottery created?
According to its website, in May 2002 New York and Ohio joined Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and Virginia to create Mega Millions. It was at a time when participating in multistate lotteries was at an all-time high. The first drawing for Mega Millions was on May 17, 2002.
In September 2002 Washington followed, joined by Texas in December 2003 and California in June 2005. In January 2010, 23 more state lotteries joined Mega Millions, with a cross-selling agreement between Mega Millions and Powerball going into effect.
Today, all American lotteries participate in Mega Millions, including the Virgin Islands Lottery, according to its website.
Has Anyone Won Mega Millions on Friday 13th?
Unlucky for some but very lucky for others, there have been several winners of the Mega Millions on Friday 13th. According to the Mega Millions' website, six Mega Millions jackpots have been won on a Friday the 13th.
Michigan has seemingly been a lucky state on Friday 13th, with four winning jackpots (June 2008, May 2011, June 2014, and one shared with Rhode Island in October 2017). A Friday the 13th jackpot was also won in New York in March 2009 and in Ohio in November 2015, according to Mega Millions.
