Another night, another chance to win a giant lottery prize
DES MOINES, Iowa: Another night, another chance to win a giant lottery prize.
Wednesday night will have a $ 550 million Powerball prize. It will only come a day after no one wins a $ 625 million Mega Millions prize, which will cause that prize to grow to $ 750 million in the next draw on Friday night.
The Mega Millions Award is now the fifth largest in U.S. history.
It’s only the second time both national lottery games have surpassed $ 500 million.
Prizes have grown massively because it’s been months since anyone matched all six numbers and won the biggest prize. The odds of winning it all are incredibly small: one in 292.2 million for Powerball and one in 302.5 million for Mega Millions.
The prizes indicated by the lotteries are for winners who choose to be paid through an annuity of more than 30 years. Almost all the winners opt for the cash option, which for Powerball would be estimated at $ 411.4 million and for Mega Millions would be $ 550.6 million.
Mega Millions and Powerball are played in 45 states, as well as in Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball is also offered in Puerto Rico.