There is a jackpot winner in the Mega Millions, as the grand prize approached $1 billion ahead of Friday night’s drawing.
The winning jackpot ticket is in Georgia, according to Mega Millions.
The winning numbers in the drawing were 1, 8, 11, 12, 57 and, for the gold Mega Ball, 7.
The jackpot grew to an estimated $980 million on Friday after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Tuesday night. That would make it the eighth largest in the lottery game’s history.
The jackpot was previously last won on June 27.
The prize had an estimated cash value of $452.2 million, which can be offered as a one-time lump sum payment or an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments.
After four jackpot wins in the first half of this year, Friday’s drawing marked the 40th drawing in this run, a game record, since it was last won in Virginia on June 27.
The largest Mega Millions jackpot prize ever won was $1.6 billion on Aug. 8, 2023.
Where does the money go?
Tickets are $5 each and are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Half the proceeds from each Mega Millions ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Local lottery agencies run the game in each jurisdiction, and how profits are spent is dictated by law.
What are the odds of winning?
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 290,472,336, but the odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are 1 in 23.
What is problem gambling?
The National Council on Problem Gambling defines problem gambling as “gambling behavior that is damaging to a person or their family, often disrupting their daily life and career.”
It is sometimes called gambling addiction or gambling disorder, a recognized mental health diagnosis. The group says anyone who gambles can be at risk.
The National Problem Gambling Helpline, 1-800-522-4700, connects anyone seeking assistance with a gambling problem to local resources.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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