Here we go again.
After a Mega Millions jackpot grew to near-record setting $648 million in December, before two lucky winners split the cash, there haven’t been too many enormous jackpots. Now after weeks without a winner, the current jackpot is at $400 million, which is good enough to be the sixth largest prize ever in lottery history.
The next chance to be a mega-millionaire will be on Tuesday night. The drawing is scheduled for 11 pm ET. A winner can also choose the cash option which comes out to a cool $224.8 million. Mega Millions is played in 43 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C.
A ticket to dream still only costs a buck.
It's raining leprechauns out there! I'm looking for the rainbow and mainly the pot 'o gold at the end. Specifically the mega millions.
— Dean Mullen (@Cajunaccountant) March 16, 2014
Santa Claus – Tooth Fairy – Mommy didn't borrow $5 from your piggy bank for the office MegaMillions pool; & other lies we tell our children.
— TeriKO (@klecket) March 14, 2014
It’s a simple game. A player picks five numbers from 1 to 75. Then they choose another number, the Mega Millions number, which ranges from 1 to 15. They need to match all six numbers to win. The odds of winning the big money are 1 in 259 million. However, a player can win different prize amounts. For example, a player who matches all five numbers but not the Mega Millions number wins $1,000,000. If no one wins the jackpot, another $5,000,000 (at least) is added to the big prize money and a new jackpot rolls. Mega Millions drawings run Tuesdays and Fridays every week at 11 pm ET.
The biggest Mega Millions payday in history occurred in 2012. The jackpot swelled to $656 million and was ultimately divided among three very lucky winners.
Will you be playing Mega Millions on Tuesday?
Image via Pennsylvania Lottery, Twitter