When can you buy mega millions tickets until

With a little, or a lot, of luck, someone will be crowned the big winner of the Mega Millions lottery and the $1 billion jackpot. As the drawing nears, it's natural for people to rush to buy tickets, but there is a cutoff time for people taking their shot at becoming wealthy beyond their imagination.

In many states, eligible tickets are sold until 15 minutes before the drawing takes place. The drawing for Mega Millions will occur at 11 p.m. EDT on Friday, so, if you live in an eligible state on the East Coast, you have to purchase your ticket by 10:45 p.m EDT. If you're in Central Time Zone, that means 9:45 p.m. CDT. The West Coast should have their tickets in hand by 7:45 p.m PDT.

However, there are exceptions to this time limit, so it's best to check the rules in your own state. For example, in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, the cutoff is 9:50 p.m. EDT on the day of the drawing.

After a series of drawings during which no one hit big, the Mega Millions reached a whopping $1 billion with a cash option of $565 million on Friday. The massive prize is the second-largest pot of cash in United States lottery history.

To take a shot at winning the life-changing prize money, a person over the age of 18 needs to purchase a ticket for two dollars with the option to guess the Megaplier for an extra dollar. Tickets are sold at a variety of establishments, including convenience stores, gas stations and newspaper stands.

There are two ways a person can select their numbers, either by choosing specific numbers or through random selection. If there is a set of lucky numbers the person wants to play, they select five different numbers ranging from one to 70 and one number ranging from one to 25. If the person wants to leave it up to the computer to decide their fate, they can select the Easy Pick/Quick Pick option and have numbers generated for them.

There are nine ways a person can win the Mega Million lottery, ranging from the top prize down to the cost of their ticket:

• 5 numbers + gold Mega Ball match = Jackpot
• 5 numbers + no gold Mega Ball match = $1,000,000
• 4 numbers + gold Mega Ball match = $10,000
• 4 numbers + no gold Mega Ball match = $500
• 3 numbers + gold Mega Ball match = $200
• 3 numbers + no gold Mega Ball match = $10
• 2 numbers + gold ball match = $10
• 1 number + gold ball match = $4
• 0 numbers + gold ball match = $2

Winners have two choices for claiming their prize, either in an immediate payment followed by 29 subsequent payments, or in one lump sum of cash.

While not as high as the Mega Millions prize, also on the line this weekend is the $470 million prize attached to the Power Ball. The drawing for the Power Ball will take place on Saturday evening.

Mega Millions lottery drawing.

By

• Tristan Smith |

The Mega Millions jackpot soared to $1.1 billion on Thursday, the second highest jackpot in game history, after no one matched all six numbers in Tuesday’s drawing. For those hoping to become the next jackpot winner, here’s what you need to know.

If won on Friday, the $1.1 billion jackpot will the 2nd highest jackpot in game history, following a $1.537 jackpot won in South Carolina on Oct. 23, 2018. The jackpot would also be the third-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.

Where can I buy Mega Millions tickets?

Mega Millions tickets can be purchased at any Massachusetts lottery retailer across the state, check Mass Lottery’s location finder to look for lottery retailers near you.

How much does a Mega Millions ticket cost?

Tickets are $2 each and can be purchased up until 10:45 p.m. Friday at Mass Lottery retailers throughout the state.

How to Watch Mega Millions drawing?

The Mega Millions drawing will be at 11 p.m. ET on Friday, July 29.

There is no broadcast partner in Massachusetts, however. Instead, those interested can see the drawn numbers appear on the Mega Millions website or watch online through the game’s YouTube channel.

Winnings

Federal and sometimes state taxes are taken from the winnings first. In Massachusetts, it is a 5% state tax. Anyone interested in how much you’ll take home after winning the $1.1 billion Mega Million jackpot can look here.

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