Biggest Mega Millions Jackpot Ever On Tuesday: How To Play In VA

VIRGINIA — Mega Millions players in Virginia are rushing to get tickets as Tuesday’s jackpot is expected to be the biggest yet, and sits at an estimated $1.55 billion.

Whether you are a frequent player or a first-time hopeful, here’s what to know about the Mega Millions draw on Tuesday in Virginia.

Mega Millions, drawn on Tuesday and Friday, has not been won since April. Lottery officials said Monday the jackpot would be a whopping $1.55 billion.

The one-time cash payout is expected to be $757 million after taxes, which is the largest jackpot in history for this particular game. If anyone wins, it will also be the third-largest jackpot in history.

The Virginia Lottery stops selling Mega Millions tickets at 10:45 p.m. on draw nights. Mega Millions tickets and online plays cannot be canceled, and all sales are final.

A ticket costs $2, with an optional $1 “Megaplier.” The Megaplier can increase your winnings up to $5 million. The Megaplier number is randomly drawn before each Mega Millions draw show.

Players select 5 numbers between 1 and 70, and a Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. You can also have the lottery computer randomly select the numbers.

Don’t forget that if you win a Virginia Lottery prize, it’s not a secret. With some exceptions, prizes greater than $600 are public record. If you win a large prize, your name and photo might be posted on the Virginia Lottery website and possibly reported in news media.

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.

Top 10 U.S. Lottery Jackpots In History

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022
2. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016
3. $1.55 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023 (anticipated)
4. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018
5. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023
6. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022
7. $1.050 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021
8. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019
9. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017
10. $754.6 million, Powerball, Feb. 6, 2023