Which one will get hit first? For now, the huge Mega Millions® and Powerball® jackpots are both still climbing. They’ve simultaneously topped the $600 million mark for just the 4th time.
Powerball faces the next big test with its drawing tonight. The Powerball jackpot stands at an estimated $645 million annuity, $307.3 million lump-sum amount for the drawing. And while that’s a huge amount, it’s not yet in the Top 10 list of jackpots in the Powerball game.
The Mega Millions jackpot stands at an estimated $875 million annuity, $413.5 million lump-sum amount, for that game’s next drawing tomorrow night. That’s the 6th-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history.
The Mega Millions jackpot has been growing for more than 3 months. It was last won on Dec. 8. The Powerball jackpot has been growing for more than 2 months, last being won on New Year’s Day.
The two games’ jackpots also simultaneously topped $600 million in 2018, 2021 and 2023.
$500,000 Iowa Powerball Double Play Winner On Saturday
Here in Iowa, we’re waiting to meet our latest big winner in Powerball!
A Powerball Double Play® ticket purchased at the Kwik Star convenience store, 1502 S. Federal Ave. in Mason City, won a $500,000 prize in Saturday’s drawing.
The Double Play option has been offered in Powerball since November here in Iowa. For an extra $1 per play, players can add the Double Play option to their Powerball tickets. (A Powerball play costs $2, and with Double Play added, a ticket costs $3.) The numbers on that ticket are then eligible to win twice – once in the regular Powerball drawing, and once in a separate Double Play drawing that same night.
In the case of the Mason City ticket, it matched the first five numbers but missed the Powerball in Saturday’s Double Play drawing to win a $500,000 prize. It was the only ticket in the country to win a $500,000 prize that night.
Truth vs. Myth: Are most tickets in Powerball and Mega Millions easy picks?
Most tickets in Powerball and Mega Millions are easy-pick plays, meaning that the lottery terminal selects the numbers on the ticket.
Years ago, about 65 to 70 percent of plays in the games were easy picks. But today, that percentage has climbed to around 90 to 95 percent. It’s a convenience factor: Players can ask for an easy-pick play at their local lottery retailer and the ticket is printed for them on demand.
Some players do choose their own numbers, and either type of play has the same odds of winning. But with 90 to 95 percent of the plays being easy picks, 90 to 95 percent of winning tickets in the games also are easy picks. It does not mean they are luckier, there are just a lot more of them.
Play Healthy
As always, the Iowa Lottery reminds everyone to enjoy the moment, but please set a limit and stay within it for how much you’ll spend when you’re buying tickets. Playing the lottery is something that should be done just for fun.
The Iowa Lottery keeps these and other “Play Smart, Be Informed” details on its website to help everyone have an accurate understanding of how the lottery works.
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