For the Illinois Lottery players, epic jackpots worth a combined $645 million are on the line. According to Fox 32 Chicago, a tantalizing $122 million Mega Millions jackpot awaits in Friday night's drawing, and on Saturday night, the Powerball jackpot will be up for grabs with an eye-popping $500 million at stake.
The Powerball has seen a steady rise since it's last claimed prize on July 19, 2023, when a lucky California ticket holder took home the whopping sum of $1.08 billion, as reported by Illinois Lottery. There's more in store for hopeful entrants, as Saturday night's Lotto jackpot soars to $22 million – marking it the largest Lotto jackpot this year and the second-largest in nearly eight years.
In 2023 alone, 14 Illinois residents have been fortunate enough to claim life-changing prizes of $1 million or more through Mega Millions, Powerball, or Lotto games. The opportunity to join them is only an entry ticket away, available for just $2 each.
However, the Lottery's reach extends beyond the brick-and-mortar locations, as ardent players can even purchase tickets online via the Illinois Lottery website or app. With over 7,000 Illinois Lottery retailers accessible across the state, the excitement builds not just for this weekend's drawings but also for the successive jackpot offerings.
Participants can hope to increase their winnings by adding the Megaplier or Power Play options for $1, while those playing the Lotto can add the Extra Shot feature for an additional $1 to enhance non-top prize winnings, according to another Fox 32 Chicago article.
