Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $1.28 billion for Friday, July 29, 2022; Here's how to play
CHECK YOUR FRIDAY TICKETS HERE: Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, July 29, 2022 - $1.28 billion jackpot
No one won the jackpot on Tuesday so the Mega Millions is now over a billion dollars and keeps on going up.
For the second time in two days, the jackpot has increased. Originally, the jackpot was estimated at $1.025 billion but jumped to $1.1 billion on Thursday and then to $1.28 billion on Friday afternoon, according to the Mega Millions website.
Friday's jackpot is the second largest ever for the Mega Millions and the third largest United States lottery. The cash option for Friday is billion with a cash option of $747.2 million.
How big is the lottery fever right now? The Mega Millions website was overwhelmed with traffic and down for more than two hours right after Tuesday night's drawing.
The numbers drawn on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 were: 7 - 29 - 60 - 63 - 66 and Megaball 15. The Megaplier was 3x. The jackpot was an estimated $830 million.
While no one won the jackpot, there were plenty of million dollar tickets in Tuesday's drawing.
Nine tickets sold in California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey (2), New York (2) and Ohio (2) matched all five white balls to win at least $1 million.
California - $2,912,502, sold at the Country Store on Baker Boulevard in the Baker. Prizes are based on actual sales in California alone.
Florida - $1 million, Stirling Petroleum on Stirling Road in Dania Beach.
Illinois - $1 million, sold at JM Food Shop on N IL Route 47 in Huntley.
New Jersey - $1 million, sold at 7-Eleven on County Road in Tenafly.
New Jersey - $1 million, sold at Circle K on Richmond Avenue in Point Pleasant.
New York - $1 million, sold at Cumberland Farms on Maple Street in Corinth.
New York - $1 million, sold at Soham Enterprise on Forest Avenue in Staten Island.
Ohio - $3 million (with Megaplier), sold at BellStore on Marietta Street in St. Clairsville.
Ohio - $1 million, sold at Hirsch's Marathon on West Bagley Road in Berea.
The Mega Millions has not been won since April 15 when a ticket sold in Tennessee won $20 million – it was the second time in two drawings the jackpot was won. In 2022, the jackpot has been won four times. Other jackpot-winning tickets were sold in California, New York and Minnesota.
Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot is at $170 million with a cash option of $100.5 million for Saturday night, according to the Powerball website.
How do I play Mega Millions?
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot).
Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick for you.
Prizes vary from $2 for the matching the Mega Ball to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six balls. You can check all the prize payouts on the Mega Millions site here.
You don't need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident a particular state where you purchase your ticket.
Where can I play Mega Millions?
You can play the game in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states not offering Mega Millions are: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
Many grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores sell lottery tickets. Some states allow Mega Millions tickets to be purchased online, but beware of scam websites. Check with your state lottery for more details.
Powerball, Mega Millions: These are the luckiest states for jackpot winners
What is deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets?
In New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, tickets must be purchased by 10:45 p.m. on the Tuesday and Friday to be included in that night's drawing.
However, some states have different deadlines and can be more than an hour before the drawing. Check with your local lottery so you don't miss out.
What are my odds of winning?
Playing the Mega Millions can be exciting, but just don't go spending those millions before you win.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350-to-1.
The odds to match all five white balls are 12,607,306-to-1.
Unlucky? Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery
What does cash option mean?
The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.
The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year.
The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don't have to wait decades for all the money.
What was biggest Mega Millions jackpot?
Here are the Top 10 jackpots ever since the Mega Millions began in 1996:
$1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.28 billion: July 29, 2022:
$1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
$648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
$543 million, July 24, 2018: Won in California
$536 million, July 8, 20116: Won in Indiana
$533 million: March 30, 2018: Won in New Jersey
$522 million: June 7, 2019: Won in California
$515 million: May 21, 2021: Won in Pennsylvania
What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?
Here's a look at the top jackpots were won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:
$1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
$1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.28 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022:
$1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
$758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
$730 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
$699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
$687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New Y
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mega Millions jumps to $1.28 billion for Friday, July 29, 2022
