By Sharon Aron Baron
In an unprecedented lottery surge, America’s top games Powerball and Mega Millions have hit a combined jackpot of $1.1 billion.
The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated $675 million, while the Mega Millions jackpot has rolled over to an estimated $480 million.
Winners have the option to receive their windfalls in 30 yearly installments or as a single lump-sum payment; approximately $340.9 million for Powerball and $240.7 million for Mega Millions. Besides the jackpot, players also have a chance to win lower-tier prizes reaching up to $2 million with Powerball and $5 million with Mega Millions.
Both lotteries start at $20 million and continue to grow until won. To win, players must match five white ball numbers and the Power Ball or Mega Ball number, with the overall odds standing at around 1-in-24.
Powerball, since its inception in Florida in 2009, has contributed over $2.68 billion towards education in the state and paid out over $3.59 billion in prizes, producing 16 jackpot winners. Florida was among three states to share in the world record $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in January 2016.
Mega Millions, which joined Florida’s roster in 2013, has generated over $1 billion for education and awarded an equivalent amount in prizes.
The next Powerball and Mega Millions drawings will be held Monday and Tuesday night.
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