MIAMI.- Another Mega Millions lottery draw and another unsuccessful night for his astronomical jackpot.
Friday’s winning combination was 11, 30, 45, 52, 56; golden ball 20.
Since none of the tickets sold included the six numbers that would have given their owner an estimated $1.35 billion jackpot, the jackpot was increased to an estimated $1.55 billion for the next drawing on Tuesday.
With Friday’s, it’s 31 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner. The last time Mega Millions gave out its biggest prize was on April 18.
The new jackpot would go to a single winner who chooses to receive the prize in an annual payment over 30 years. Almost all of those who achieve millionaire jackpots opt for the cash payment, which for Tuesday is estimated at 757.2 million dollars.
Much of that money will go into federal taxes, and many states tax lottery winnings as well.
Winning the jackpot is so difficult because the odds of doing so are very low, of one in 302.6 million. The chances of getting smaller prizes, which start at two dollars, are significantly higher.
Mega Millions is played in 45 states, plus Washington, DC, and the US Virgin Islands.
The jackpot that will be drawn next Tuesday is not definitively known as it will depend on the final amount played.
“It’s exciting to see Mega Millions grow,” said Gretchen Corbin, Georgia Lottery President and CEO, Principal Director of the Mega Millions Consortium. “As the jackpot gets higher and higher, we thank our players and retailers for their support, which benefits the many good causes funded by our participating lotteries.”
Half of the proceeds from the sale of each Mega Millions ticket stay in the state where the ticket was sold, where the money supports designated good causes and retailer commissions.
