MEGA MILLIONS jackpot in Florida: Tonight's jackpot drawing is mega-historic
Tonight's MEGA MILLIONS lottery drawing will be for the third largest jackpot in the game's history. MEGA MILLIONS started in 2002.
A winner or winners were assured to collect more than $1 billion dollars when no one hit the numbers in Tuesday's drawing and it rolled over setting up some serious drama for tonight's drawing at 11 p.m.
In case you missed it the winning numbers on July 26 were:
7 29 60 63 66 (Mega Ball: 15)
Needless to say, there will be high hopes for those purchasing tickets here in Fort Myers and the rest of Southwest Florida for locating this big pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
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Did you know?
Q. Has any Florida resident won a MEGA MILLONS jackpot before?
A. If a Floridian wins Friday's jackpot, he, she or they would become state's third MEGA MILLIONS jackpot winner.
Q. Where did the previous winners live?
A. There was a winner from Port Richey in 2018 ($451 million) and a winner from Merritt Island in 2014, who was one of two winners and split the $414 jackpot.
WINNERS: Here is a history of MEGA MILLIONS jackpot winners
Q. When did Florida join the MEGA MILLIONS lottery?
A. 2013
Q. How much revenue has the MEGA MILLIONS lottery generated for the state?
A. $865.4 million has been collected for education, according to the Florida Lottery website.
Q. What about the rollovers from the MEGA MILLIONS jackpots?
A. This series of MEGA MILLIONS jackpot rollovers has generated more than $37.1 million for education in Florida.
Q. How much has been awarded through prizes?
A. So far, more than $807.9 million in prizes to 64.3 million players.
Q. Where can someone in Florida watch th drawing?
A. MEGA MILLIONS drawings are broadcast on 17 carrier stations throughout the state. Drawings are also available for viewing on the Florida Lottery website and Florida Lottery official YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/floridalottery.
Q. How long has this MEGA MILLIONS jackpot being rolling over?
A. Since the April 19, 2022 drawing. This is the third largest jackpot in the history of the game.
Q. How much is a MEGA MILLIONS lottery ticket in Florida?
A. $2
Q. What is the deadline for buying a ticket to be eligible for the drawing?
A. 10 p.m. ET
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Q. How many other states can you play MEGA MILLIONS in besides Florida?
A. You can play in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you happen to live in a state where you can’t purchase a ticket, you can still play if you have a ticket purchased in another state. You do have to return to that state to collect your winnings though.
FYI: Even if you don't win the jackpot there are eight other ways to win tonight or in the future:
5 matching numbers: $1 million.
4 matching numbers + Mega Ball: $10,000.
4 matching numbers: $500.
3 matching numbers + Mega Ball: $200.
3 matching numbers: $10.
2 matching numbers + Mega Ball: $10.
1 matching number + Mega Ball: $4.
Mega Ball matching $2.
If you win MEGA MILLIONS jackpot
And just in case you do win the jackpot tonight, know this:
Jackpot prize winners have the option to receive their winnings in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump-sum payment . Jackpot prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the winning jackpot draw to receive the cash option. Winners have 180 days from the applicable drawing to claim their prize.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Mega Millions drawing: billion dollar jackpot is third largest
