$1 Billion Mega Millions Christmas Eve Jackpot Expected

UPDATED 12:15 p.m.

MASSACHUSETTS — Who needs a last-minute Christmas gift?

Lottery players can grab a Mega Millions ticket through Christmas Eve night and have a 1-in-302 million chance of winning close to a billion dollars. A MassLottery spokesman said the expected grand prize payout was increased from $970 million to an even $1 billion early Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said the Mega Millions game has not been won since Sept. 10, when a player in Texas purchased the $810 million jackpot winner.

The game has gone 30 drawings without a winner.

If anyone wins on Tuesday, they will win the seventh-largest jackpot in the game's history.

The one-time cash payout is expected to be about $448 million before taxes.

The Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots in history:

1. $1.602 billion: Aug. 8, 2023
2. $1.537 billion: Oct. 23, 2018
3. $1.348 billion: Jan. 13, 2023
4. $1.337 billion: July 29, 2022
5. $1.128 billion: March 26, 2024
6. $1.050 billion: Jan. 22, 2021
7. $970 million: Dec. 24 (anticipated)
8. $810 million: Sept. 10
9. $656 million: March 30, 2012
10. $648 million: Dec. 17, 2013

Mega Millions tickets are $2 each and can be played in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tickets for Tuesday's drawing can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. Tuesday at Mass Lottery retailers throughout the state. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. in Atlanta.