A jackpot lottery prize is a big sum of money that you can claim if you meet the rules. Depending on the prize, you may have anywhere from 60 to 120 days to claim it. This can be a long time if you have to figure out what to do with the money and who to share it with. It is also important to share the news of winning with as few people as possible. The news can spread fast and scammers may show up out of nowhere.
Mega Millions
A massive jackpot has been announced for the Mega Millions jackpot lottery. With a cash value of over $470 million, this prize is now the nation’s third largest jackpot. No one has won the jackpot in the last 29 draws. The jackpot was last won in January 2016, when it was worth almost $1.6 billion. The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 11 p.m. EDT.
Powerball
Powerball is one of the biggest lottery jackpots in the world, with prize pots that range from $5 million to more than $2 billion. The jackpot won by a couple from Tennessee in January 2016 was the largest in the history of the game. The couple chose their numbers at random through a system known as quick pick, and they shared their prize with other winners in Florida and California.
Just the Jackpot
Just the Jackpot is a new wager that allows players to win two chances at the jackpot prize for only $3. It is available in some states and includes two Quick Picks for the jackpot prize. Just the Jackpot tickets are not eligible to win lower prize levels and must be purchased from a clerk.
Power Play
Power Play is a feature that allows players to increase their chances of winning the jackpot by playing a second ticket. This feature is similar to the Powerball, except that the Power Play number is drawn from a separate barrel of 42 or 43 balls. Each of the balls has a number corresponding to the prize multiplier. The second option, if selected, will increase the secondary prize by three times if you happen to match the second set of numbers.
Odds of winning
It is possible to increase your odds of winning the jackpot by buying more than one ticket. However, the change in odds is very small. For instance, buying 10 tickets increases your odds to 1 in 29.2 million, from 10 in 292 million to 1 in 29.2. In other words, you’d have a higher chance of winning the jackpot if you bought 10 tickets instead of just one. But the chances of winning the jackpot with this method are still far less than winning the lottery.
Buying a house or yacht
When you win the jackpot, the temptation to buy a house or yacht may be overwhelming, but the best advice is to be realistic. While many lottery winners spend their winnings on luxury purchases, some have chosen to put their prize money toward a good cause.