Customers of the Virginia Lottery might find themselves envisioning a life of immense wealth as they retire to bed on Friday night. However, considering the astronomical odds, it is highly likely that Mega Millions participants from Virginia may wake up on Saturday to discover their ticket didn’t yield any prizes. Nevertheless, the funds generated from their ticket purchases will contribute towards education.
On Tuesday night, nobody managed to match all five white balls and the Mega Ball, resulting in no big win. As a result, the Mega Millions jackpot for Friday will surpass $1 billion, marking only the third occurrence of such a milestone in the game’s two-decade existence. Just 12 hours have elapsed since the unsuccessful drawing on Tuesday, and the estimated jackpot has already reached $1.02 billion.
As lines start to form at convenience stores nationwide, it is highly probable that this situation will change. The nationwide Mega Millions Consortium, led by Pat McDonald, anticipates this change.
We eagerly anticipate the growth of the jackpot, as it gradually accumulates over several months and eventually reaches the astonishing billion-dollar milestone. We urge customers to maintain a balanced approach to playing and savor every moment of the journey. Rest assured, someone will ultimately emerge victorious.
How to play Mega Millions
Mega Millions drawings take place at 11 p.m. every Tuesday and Friday in the lottery game.
When playing $2 Mega Millions, participants select their initial five numbers out of a range of 70. Additionally, a separate pool of 25 numbers is dedicated to the selection of the “Mega Ball.” For an additional $1 per play, players have the option to include the Megaplier.
The breakdown of prizes and their corresponding odds are as follows:
- The correct Mega Ball has a probability of 1 in 37 and costs $2.
- The chance of getting the correct Mega Ball plus any other number is 1 in 89 and costs $4.
- You have a chance of winning $10 if you correctly guess the Mega Ball along with either two numbers (1-in-693) or three numbers (1-in-606).
- The chance of winning $200 by correctly guessing the Mega Ball number along with any three numbers is 1 in 14,547.
- The chance of getting four correct numbers without the Mega Ball is 1 in 38,792, and the prize for this is $500.
- The prize for matching the correct Mega Ball along with four correct numbers is $10,000, with odds of winning being 1-in-931,001.
- The chance of winning $1 million by matching five correct numbers, excluding the Mega Ball, is 1 in 12,607,306.
- The probability of winning the jackpot by correctly matching the Mega Ball and all five numbers is 1 in 302,575,350.
To purchase Mega Millions tickets online, residents of Virginia and Washington D.C. must simply register on the respective lottery websites (Virginia Lottery or District of Columbia Lottery) in order to initiate the buying procedure.
Virginia Lottery still waiting for an all-time Mega Millions win
Out of the top 10 biggest jackpots in Mega Millions history, the California Lottery has emerged as the leader with three wins. Surprisingly, no tickets purchased in Virginia or the District of Columbia have been able to secure a spot among the top 10 winners.
| Amount | Date | Ticket Location | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | $1.537 billion | Oct. 23, 2018 | South Carolina |
| 2. | $1.1 billion (est.) | July 29, 2022 | Current Jackpot |
| 3. | $1.050 billion | Jan. 22, 2021 | Michigan |
| 4. | $656 million | March 30, 2012 | (3) Maryland, Illinois and Kansas |
| 5. | $648 million | Dec. 17, 2013 | (2) California and Georgia |
| 6. | $543 million | July 24, 2018 | California |
| 7. | $536 million | July 8, 2016 | Indiana |
| 8. | $533 million | March 30, 2018 | New Jersey |
| 9. | $522 million | June 7, 2019 | California |
| 10. | $516 million | May 21, 2021 | Pennsylvania |
When a lottery prize reaches astronomical heights, Virginia is sure to come out as the ultimate victor.
The Virginia Lottery channels its earnings towards supporting K-12 public education within the state, encompassing both lottery games and scratch ticket sales. In the fiscal year of 2021, these proceeds amounted to a remarkable $766 million, contributing greatly to public schools. Furthermore, any unclaimed winnings from tickets are directed towards Virginia’s Literary Fund, which aids in financing projects for public-school construction, renovations, and technology advancements.
Make sure you verify your Mega Millions ticket, even if you don’t hit the billion-dollar jackpot. Virginia transferred $10.3 million to the Literary Fund in FY 2021 due to unclaimed winnings.
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