Mega Millions lottery game’s jackpot had soared to $312 million after no one won the grand prize in Tuesday night’s drawing.
Despite the long odds of winnings, sales of the Mega Millions tickets were brisk in Salem County Friday as the evening drawing drew time drew closer.
The multi-state lottery game is played in New Jersey and numerous other states around the nation.
Players may pick six numbers from two separate pools of numbers — five different numbers from 1 to 56 and one number from 1 to 46 — or allow the machine to pick your numbers. You win the jackpot by matching all six winning numbers in a drawing.
Besides the jackpot, there are several smaller prizes for those who pick many, but not all of the winning numbers.
A player can choose to take their winnings over 26 year payments or they can choose to take a lump sum payment. If the jackpot is approximately $312 million, a lump sum payment would be approximately $198 million.
Mega Millions tickets cost $1 per play.
This jackpot has been growing since February 1, when the Mega Millions jackpot was last won. The jackpot has now rolled 14 times without a winner. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately one in 176 million. The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are approximately 1 in 40.
Mega Millions has awarded 110 jackpots since the first drawing on May 17, 2002. In that time, more than 21.88 billion tickets have been sold nationwide. Each participating state determines how its Mega Millions profits are spent. In many states, profits are earmarked for education. The beneficiaries in other states include parks, natural resources, property tax relief, programs to help the elderly and several other important causes.
Mega Millions is currently played in 43 jurisdictions (41 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands). Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m.