Verify your Mega Millions tickets to see if you’ve won the $582 million jackpot from Tuesday’s drawing.
Could today be your lucky day?
The estimated jackpot for this Mega Millions drawing was $582 million, with a cash option of $286.9 million, according to the official Mega Millions website. This marks the ninth-largest jackpot in the game’s history.
The jackpot was last claimed on June 4, when a player in Illinois won $552 million, also the ninth largest in Mega Millions.
Currently, the Powerball jackpot stands at $54 million, with a cash option of $26.8 million, as reported on the Powerball website.
Winning Numbers for 8/27/24
The winning numbers for Tuesday, August 27, 2024, are:
16 – 18 – 21 – 54 – 65 and Megaball 5
Megaplier: 2x
Next Mega Millions Drawing
Mega Millions drawings occur every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
How to Play Mega Millions
A ticket costs $2, and you can add the Megaplier for an extra $1, which can multiply your prize up to five times (excluding the jackpot). Players select five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. You can also opt for a Quick Pick to have numbers randomly generated. No residency requirement exists for ticket purchases.
Prizes and Matching Numbers
You can win $2 for matching just the Mega Ball. For matching all five white balls (except in California), the prize can be as high as $1 million. Check the Mega Millions website for complete prize details.
Where to Play Mega Millions
Mega Millions is offered in 45 states, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states without the game are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are available at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and some airport terminals. You can also buy tickets online via Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier for the USA TODAY Network, in select states.
Ticket Purchase Deadlines
The deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets varies by state and can be as short as 15 minutes to an hour before the drawing. For some apps, the deadline may be up to two hours prior. For example, in New Jersey, the deadline is 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. drawing.
Odds of Winning
While playing Mega Millions is thrilling, remember the odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350 to 1, and the odds of matching all five white balls are 12,607,306 to 1.
Cash Option Explained
Major U.S. lotteries offer two payout options: annuity and cash. The annuity pays out over time with an immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5% each year. The cash option is a lump sum that is lower than the advertised jackpot.
Anonymity for Winners
In some states, including New Jersey, winners can remain anonymous. This was made possible by a law signed by Governor Phil Murphy. In other states, winners’ names and hometowns are public records, so check your state lottery for specifics.