Mega Millions $306 Million Jackpot Drawing Is Friday

Someone could end the year with a big financial windfall via a $306 million jackpot in Friday's Mega Millions drawing, the 13th largest grand prize in the history of the game. The cash payout is $191 million for the game, which is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.

And the jackpot for Saturday's Powerball drawing stands at $384 million. Though it has been rare in the past for both lottery games to top the $300 million mark at the same time, the odds of winning are longer than in the past, so big jackpots occur more frequently.

Mega Millions drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays and Fridays. Five balls are drawn from a set numbered from 1 to 70, and one ball is drawn from a set numbered 1 through 25. Winners must match all numbers.

The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was Oct. 31, when two winners split a $43 million jackpot.

The winning numbers in the Tuesday, Dec. 26, drawing were 10-12-20-38-41 with a Gold Mega Ball number of 25. The Megaplier number was 4.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot increased to 1 in 302.6 million in October, up from 1 in 258.9 million before rules changes in October. Basic ticket costs also doubled, to $2 each.

There are nine ways to win a Mega Millions prize. Overall odds of winning some kind of prize are 1 in 24.

Players who match five numbers from the first pool win $1 million; those matching four numbers from the first pool and the Gold Mega Ball number win $10,000; those matching four numbers from the first pool win $500; those matching three numbers from the first pool and the Gold Mega Ball win $200; those matching two numbers plus the Gold Mega Ball win $10; those matching one number and the Gold Mega Ball win $4; and those matching only the Gold Mega Ball win $2.

The Powerball jackpot drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. Basic tickets cost $2.

The winning numbers in the Wednesday, Dec. 27, drawing were 03-09-16-56-60. The Powerball number was 3, and the Power Play number was also 3. The Powerball game is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

There are also nine ways to win a Powerball prize. The overall odds of winning any prize are about 1 in 25.

Winning the jackpot requires matching all five numbers, plus the Powerball. Players who match five numbers win $1 million; players who match four numbers plus the Powerball win $50,000; players who match four numbers win $100; players who match three numbers plus the Powerball win $100; players who match three numbers win $7; players who match two numbers plus the Powerball win $7; players who match one number plus the Powerball win $4; and players who match only the Powerball win $4.

Here's a fun fact: The odds of winning both jackpots is a staggering 1 in 88 quadrillion.

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

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