With Mega Millions jackpot at $1.28B, here’s how much Kentuckians have spent on tickets
With Friday’s lotto jackpot for the Mega Millions draw expected to reach 1.28 billion, it’s little wonder sales since the last drawing Tuesday are up.
They’ve already totaled $3.9 million in Kentucky, even with hours left to go to purchase tickets.
“For context, total sales leading up to the drawing on Tuesday were $3.5 million, so we’ve already surpassed that mark and haven’t hit rush hour yet. Rush hour will be between 3:00 and 6:00 tonight, when we’ll see a lot of tickets going out,” Chip Polston, a Kentucky Lottery representative, told the Herald-Leader in an email Friday.
The Mega Millions jackpot is estimated to reach $1.28 billion, and the cash option for the jackpot is $747.2 million.
Here’s what to know about how to play and the nine ways you can win.
How to play Mega Millions
According to the Kentucky Lottery release, players pick five white balls and one Mega Ball when filling out a play slip, or they can choose the Quick Pick option where the computer chooses their numbers.
Players can win by:
- Match five + Mega Ball = $1,280,000,000
- Match five but not the Mega Ball = $1,000,000
- Match four + Mega Ball = $10,000
- Match four but not the Mega Ball = $500
- Match three + Mega Ball = $200
- Match three but not the Mega Ball = $10
- Match two + Mega Ball = $10
- Match one + Mega Ball = $4
- No match but you get the Mega Ball = $2
Players can also purchase the Megaplier feature.
For an extra $1 per play, players can increase their prize amount – but not the size of the jackpot. The Match five but not the Mega Ball with Megaplier is worth up to $5 million depending on what Megaplier number is drawn, the release said.
Where can I buy Mega Millions tickets?
Tickets for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing are $2 each and can be purchased at any of the Kentucky Lottery’s retailers or online at kylottery.com.
You have until 10:45 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Friday to purchase.
The drawings take place at 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time/10 p.m. Central Standard Time Tuesdays and Fridays.
Do you have a question about Kentucky Lottery? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published July 29, 2022 at 4:04 PM.