Mega Millions results July 26, 2022: Jackpot crosses $1 billion; Ohio ticket wins millions
For the first time this year, the Mega Millions jackpot has cracked the $1 billion mark after no grand prize tickets were sold for the Tuesday night drawing. The jackpot now sits at an estimated whopping $1.02 billion, or a cash option of $602.5 million.
It's still the third largest lottery Mega Millions has ever had, albeit likely not for long, with a $1.05 billion winning ticket in Michigan in 2021 in second and a $1.537 billion winning ticket in South Carolina in 2018 holding the top record, according to the lottery's records.
Mega Millions: Here is the cutoff time to buy tickets for Friday's $1.02 billion Mega Millions jackpot
No one has won the Mega Millions since April 15, when a ticket in Tennessee won $20 million.
The most recent numbers from Tuesday's drawing were 7, 29, 60, 63 and 66. The Mega Ball was 15, and the Megaplier was 3X.
While the huge jackpot is still unclaimed, there were Match 5 $1 million winners in California, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, two in New Jersey and two in New York. There was also a Match 5 + Megaplier $3 million winner in Ohio.
The next drawing is at 11 p.m. Friday, July 29.
Whether you've played before, or if this is your first time trying your luck with the Mega Millions, here's what you need to know ahead of the next drawing.
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When are the Mega Millions drawings?
Mega Millions drawings are Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Ticket sales end at 10:45 p.m. in Kentucky and Indiana.
How to play the Mega Millions
Tickets to Mega Millions cost $2 per play.
There are nine total ways to win a prize, from the jackpot to $2.
Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.
Choose Easy Pick or Quick Pick to have the terminal randomly pick numbers for you. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in the drawing.
What's the Megaplier?
Most states offer the Megaplier feature, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four and five times.
It costs an additional $1 per play. Before each regular Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier is drawn. From a pool of 15 balls, five are marked with "2X," three with "4X" and one with "5X."
Where to buy Mega Millions tickets
You can play Mega Millions in 47 localities: 45 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To find locations, search the Mega Millions website.
In Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, you can buy a Mega Millions ticket at gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets until 10:45 p.m. on drawing night.
In Kentucky, residents can also purchase tickets online at www.KYLottery.com.
In Ohio, residents can use Lottery Card available in Kroger, Buehler’s Fresh Foods and Giant Eagle stores. It allows Ohio consumers to enter draw games on their phones and get notified and paid electronically if they win. You can also buy tickets online at www.OhioLottery.com.
What was the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever?
In 2018, one winning ticket in South Carolina sold for a $1.537 billion grand prize, which was the world's largest lottery prize ever won on a single ticket.
In January 2021, a winning ticket sold in Michigan for $1.05 billion.
What happens if I win Mega Millions?
Mega Millions offers two options.
You can take annuity, in which you're paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5% bigger than the previous.
There's also the cash option, a one-time, lump-sum payment equal to all the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mega Millions drawing 7/26/22: Jackpot reaches over $1 billion
