Did anyone win Mega Millions? Jackpot grows to $229M after players win big in Texas, Florida
Lottery players in Texas and Florida took home big prizes in Mega Millions after Tuesday's drawing even as the total jackpot has climbed to $229 million.
A $1 million Mega Millions ticket was sold Tuesday at a convenience store in Austin, Texas, according to the Texas Lottery. To win the $1 million prize, the ticket matched all five of the Mega Millions numbers except for the final Mega Ball number.
One Florida player was an even bigger winner after purchasing a ticket that matched the five numbers and included the Megaplier, bringing the prize up to $3 million, according to the Florida lottery.
No details were released about the winners. Texas is one of 17 states that allows national lottery winners to remain anonymous when claiming prizes worth at least $1 million.
The winning ticket is the latest Mega Millions prize out of Texas after a lucky player won a massive $810 million jackpot in September with a ticket sold in Sugar Land.
Mega Millions: Jackpot rises to above $200 million
When is the next Mega Millions drawing?
The Mega Millions jackpot rose to an estimated $229 million after no one claimed the top prize in Tuesday's drawing.
The next drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST Friday.
If someone has the lucky ticket for the jackpot, they could take home an estimated $107.4 million lump-sum payment after taxes, according to the lottery.
In March, a lucky Mega Millions player from New Jersey won a whopping $1.1 billion. Although that prize has not been claimed yet the lottery says that it's not the first time a jackpot went unclaimed.
To view the list of past winners, visit the Mega Millions website.
How to play the Mega Millions
In order to buy a ticket, you'll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
To play, you will need to pick six numbers. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from 1 to 70. The gold Mega Ball is one number between 1 and 25.
If you believe the odds are against you, ask for a "Quick Pick" or an "Easy Pick," the computer will randomly generate the numbers for you.
Players can add the "Megaplier" for $1, which can increase non-grand prize winnings by two, three, four or five times. The Megaplier is drawn before the Mega Millions numbers on Tuesday and Friday.
There are 15 Megaplier balls in all:
- 2X, five balls
- 3X, six balls
- 4X, three balls
- 5X, one ball
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the Paste BN Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
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