The giant Mega Millions® jackpot has climbed even higher for Friday’s drawing. No one won the big prize in last night’s drawing, so the jackpot currently stands at an estimated $1.025 billion annuity, $602.5 million cash option for Friday.
That’s the 3rd-largest jackpot in the history of the game, and the 4th-largest jackpot ever offered in the United States.
When the jackpot reaches this level, it becomes harder to predict the grand-prize estimate heading into the next drawing. Stronger sales mean the jackpot will go even higher, so the initial jackpot estimate for Friday’s drawing could be raised again in the next few days.
3 Iowa Tickets That Came SO CLOSE
A total of 48,996 plays purchased by Iowa Lottery players won prizes in last night’s Mega Millions drawing ranging from $2 up to $30,000.
Three Iowa tickets were just one number away from having at least a share of the jackpot. They each matched four of the five white balls and the Mega Ball to win a $10,000 prize. And the Megaplier® option was added to one of the tickets, which multiplied that prize to $30,000.
The winning numbers in last night’s drawing were: 7-29-60-63-66 and Mega Ball 15. The Megaplier number was 3.
The $10,000-winning tickets were purchased at Kum & Go, 3215 Seventh Ave. in Marion; and Kwik Stop, 185 Peosta St. in Peosta. The $30,000-winning ticket was purchased at Casey’s, 1759 Madison Ave. in Council Bluffs.
Our New Signs Are Keeping Up!
In recent years when a jackpot reached into the billions of dollars, the Iowa Lottery’s jackpot signs in retail locations couldn’t display amounts that large. The lottery would display the current jackpot amount until it topped $999 million, then the signs would continue to display $999 million until the jackpot was won and returned to its starting amount.
When the Iowa Lottery updated its statewide gaming system last September, we also replaced our jackpot signs in retail locations. This is the first time that the “billions” option has been used since the new signs were installed in retail locations last year. And it makes me smile to see that they’re keeping up with the current jackpot amount! (The picture you see with this blog entry was taken today of one of the signs.)
Easy Picks vs. Your Own Numbers
The vast majority of tickets purchased in lotto games like Mega Millions and Powerball® are easy-pick plays, meaning that the lottery terminal assigns the numbers printed on the ticket. About 94 percent of the plays purchased in Iowa for last night’s Mega Millions drawing were easy picks.
But you also have the option of choosing your own numbers. You choose five numbers from a pool of 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from a separate pool of 25.
You win the jackpot if the numbers on your play match all six of the winning numbers in a Mega Millions drawing. But there are a total of nine prize levels in Mega Millions ranging from $2 up to the jackpot, so be sure to check your tickets for all the prizes you may have won.
And as always, remember that it only takes one ticket to win. Please play responsibly.
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