Mega Millions, Powerball Jackpots Now Total $287 Million

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Dec. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Big jackpots totaling $287 million are up for grabs in the Mega Millions® and Powerball® games over the next two nights.

Tonight's Mega Millions jackpot offers an annuity value of $85 million and a cash prize of $52.2 million. Saturday's Powerball® jackpot offers an annuity value of $202 million and a cash prize of $125.9 million.

"Stop and play both games while you're running errands or shopping for the holidays," said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. "It's fun to dream about how different your 2016 could be if you were to become Pennsylvania's 20^th big jackpot winner."

It costs $3 to purchase a ticket for both games: $2 for Powerball; $1 for Mega Millions. Tickets for both games are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights.

To encourage responsible play, Pool Play forms are available on palottery.com for the convenience of players who wish to pool ticket purchases with family members, friends or coworkers.

The Pennsylvania Lottery has sold 17 jackpot-winning Powerball tickets since joining the game in 2002 and two jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket since joining the game in 2010.

Pennsylvania's most recent jackpot win came just five months ago, when a truck driver from Virginia claimed a $91.8 million Mega Millions® jackpot from the July 21, 2015, drawing. That ticket was sold at a truck stop in Milton, Northumberland County.

How to Play Mega Millions: Mega Millions tickets cost $1 per play. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 75 and one number from 1 to 15 (the Mega Ball). Players may select their own numbers using a Mega Millions playslip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. For an extra $1 per play, players can add the Megaplier®. Prior to the Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier number – ranging from two to five – is randomly selected. The Megaplier applies to non-jackpot prizes.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights, Tuesdays and Fridays.

How to play Powerball: Players pay $2 and select five white balls from the first set of 69 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 26 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball playslip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize.

Purchasing the $1 Power Play option allows a winner to increase lower-tier prizes by a factor of 2, 3, 4 or 5, depending on the Power Play number drawn. A 10X multiplier is also available for the Match 4+1 prize and lower prize tiers when the jackpot is at or below $150 million, or when announced. The jackpot and the Match 5 prize are not multiplied. The Match 5 prize with the Power Play option is worth $2 million. It is $1 million without Power Play.

Powerball is sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Pennsylvania, tickets are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights, Wednesday and Saturday.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $25.8 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state.

The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds players to check every ticket, every time. Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-848-1880.

For drawings results, winning numbers, winners' stories and to subscribe to the Lottery's RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/palottery or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Lottery Public Relations, 717-702-8008

Editor's Note: For Powerball historic information and jackpot rankings, visit www.powerball.com, select "Press Contacts," and select the link for "Powerball General Information." For more information about Mega Millions, visit www.megamillions.com.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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