The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $1.15 billion after no one won the Christmas Eve drawing. This makes it one of the largest jackpots in history. Joshua Johnston, lead director for the Mega Millions Consortium, said, "We know that many people will likely receive tickets to Friday's drawing as holiday gifts, and what a gift that would turn out to be if you ended up with a ticket worth a $1.15 billion jackpot," accroding to CW39.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350. However, the chances of winning any prize are much better, at 1 in 24. Lottery officials remind players that, while the jackpot is large, winning is still highly unlikely, as reported by CW39.
Mega Millions tickets cost $2 and are available in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with half the proceeds staying in the state of purchase. Drawings are held twice a week, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. Joshua Johnston, said, "I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays – whether Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, or any other way people choose to celebrate the season – than by helping fulfill the dreams that come with a prize like this and prizes that will be won at all levels of the game," as stated by AP News.
