Washington, August 1: An estimated USD 1.05 billion Mega Millions jackpot will be up for grabs Tuesday night, giving lottery players a chance to snap an unlucky streak that has stretched on for months. No one has won the Mega Millions jackpot since April 18, allowing it to roll over again and again until it reached its status as tied for the seventh-largest in US history. Tuesday night's drawing will be the 30th since someone last won the jackpot. Mega Millions Jackpot Up to USD 640 Million After No Big Winner.
The drought is due to a combination of poor luck and terrible odds, as the chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 302.6 million. The odds of winning smaller prizes, ranging from USD 1 million to USD 2, are significantly better. Mega Millions Jackpot Rises to $910 Million After No One Wins Top Prize.
The USD 1.05 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to collect through an annuity, with annual payments over 30 years. A sole winner who opts for a lump sum payment would receive an estimated USD 527.9 million.
Winners also would be subject to federal taxes, and many states also tax lottery winnings. Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, DC, and the US Virgin Islands.