Mega Millions Jackpot Soars To $1.25B: How To Play In MA

MASSACHUSETTS — The Mega Millions jackpot will be at least $1.25 billion in Friday night’s drawing, spurring a rush to buy tickets in Massachusetts.

The jackpot soared after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Tuesday: 8, 24, 30, 45, 61 and the Mega Ball of 12.

Jackpot winners have two options — to collect winnings through an annuity, with annual payments spread across 30 years, or to take the cash option — an estimated $625.3 million in Friday’s drawing. Winners may be subject to federal taxes. Many states also tax lottery winnings.

To be eligible for drawings, held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, tickets must have been purchased that day by 10:45 p.m., under Massachusetts lottery rules.

There are hundreds of stores, gas stations and liquor stores across the state that sell Mega Millions tickets. Any lottery agent will sell tickets, but you can find all locations on the state lottery website.

Friday’s drawing will be the 31st since the jackpot was last won in New York on April 18, according to Mega Millions.

The odds of winning the jackpot are pretty low — about 1 in 302.6 million. You have a better chance of dying in a plane crash or lightning strike. But the odds of winning smaller prizes ranging are significantly better: the odds of winning $1 million are about 1 in 12.6 million.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.