This is just the sixth time that the jackpots in Powerball® and Mega Millions® have both topped $400 million at the same time. And, they’re getting close to a mark that has only happened twice: the jackpots simultaneously being above $500 million.
The Powerball jackpot for tonight’s drawing stands at an estimated $675 million annuity, $340.9 million lump-sum option. That’s the ninth-largest jackpot in the history of the game.
The Mega Millions jackpot for that game’s next drawing tomorrow night is at an estimated $480 million annuity, $240.7 million lump-sum option.
As you can see from the numbers, the jackpots are ALMOST at a point that has only happened twice. Once in 2018 and again in 2021, the games’ jackpots topped the $500 million mark at the same time.
They’ve Been Growing for About the Same Time
Another interesting point about the current jackpot run is that the giant prizes have been growing for nearly the same amount of time. The Mega Millions jackpot was last won on April 18, while Powerball was last hit on April 19. But although they’re both really getting up there, the Powerball jackpot is nearly $170 million higher now. What’s making the difference?
Powerball has a three drawings each week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, while Mega Millions has two drawings a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. That extra drawing each week for Powerball means that game’s jackpot is growing more quickly.
Easy Pick vs. Your Own Numbers
More than 90 percent of the tickets purchased in Mega Millions and Powerball these days are easy picks, meaning that the player opted for the lottery terminal to randomly select the numbers involved.
There is debate about which option has a better chance of winning: an easy-pick or a ticket where the player chooses the numbers. The answer? The odds are the same for every ticket in the game. There are more easy-pick winners simply because most tickets purchased are easy picks. It doesn’t mean they’re luckier, it just means there are more of them.
For Newcomers (Or Those Needing A Refresher)
Giant jackpots attract the attention of a lot of first-timers and bring occasional players into the mix as well. For players needing a refresher or crash course, the Iowa Lottery keeps how-to-play videos on its website to give everyone the key reminders in just a couple minutes. Here is a direct link to that page: https://www.ialottery.com/Pages/Multimedia/HowToPlay.aspx
General Pointers
The Iowa Lottery offers these general pointers when it comes to buying tickets for the upcoming jackpot drawings:
- Remember that the deadline in Iowa to buy tickets for the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings is at 8:59 p.m. the night of the drawing. If you buy a ticket after that deadline, it will be for an upcoming drawing and you won’t be in the running for that night’s giant prize.
- And, please remember to play responsibly. You only need one ticket to have a chance to win.
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