When is the next Mega Millions drawing? Jackpot at $1.25 billion
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No ticket won the grand prize in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing, so the jackpot continues to rise, now worth an estimated $1.25 billion with a cash value of $625.3 million.
The current jackpot is the fourth-largest prize in the lottery's history.
The jackpot has continued to swell since the April 18 drawing when a ticket sold in New York won the $20 million prize. Five other Mega Millions jackpots have been won this year, including a $1.348 billion haul in January, which was the second-largest prize in the lottery game's history. The mammoth jackpot comes days after a single ticket sold in California won the Powerball $1.08 billion prize.
But when is the next drawing, and how do you play the multimillion-dollar game? Here's everything you need to know.
Next Mega Million drawing days
Drawings take place every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The next drawing is Friday, Aug. 4.
The jackpot for the drawing is estimated to be $1.25 billion or a cash value of $625.3 million.
What were the Mega Millions winning numbers from Tuesday, Aug. 1?
The winning numbers from the Tuesday, Aug. 1 drawing were 8, 24, 30, 45 and 61. The gold Megaball was 12, and the Megaplier was 4x.
Although there were no jackpot winners, there were Match 5 $1 million winners in California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York and Wisconsin. There was also a Match 5 + Megaplier $4 million winner in Texas.
How to play Mega Millions
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 per play.
There are nine total ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.
Players can pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers: five different numbers from the white balls numbered 1-70 and one number from the gold balls numbered 1-25.
- Five white balls + one gold ball = Jackpot.
- Five white balls = $1 million.
- Four white balls + one gold ball = $10,000.
- Four white balls = $500.
- Three white balls + one gold ball = $200.
- Three white balls = $10.
- Two white balls + one gold ball= $10.
- One white ball + one gold ball = $4.
- One gold ball = $2.
You can either pick your lucky numbers yourself or select Easy Pick or Quick Pick and have the numbers auto-drawn. If you can't make up your mind, the Mega Millions website has a random number generator.
What is the Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes from two, three, four and five times.
It costs an additional $1 per play.
Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X."
Where to buy Mega Millions tickets
You can play Mega Millions in 47 localities: 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To find locations, search the Mega Millions website.
In Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, you can buy a Mega Millions ticket at gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets until 10:45 p.m. on drawing night.
In Kentucky, residents can also purchase tickets online at kylottery.com.
In Ohio, residents can use Lottery Card available in Kroger, Buehler’s Fresh Foods and Giant Eagle stores. It allows Ohio consumers to enter draw games on their phones and get notified and paid electronically if they win.
