Mega Millions jackpot records record $ 868 million

The Mega Millions jackpot reached $ 868 million for the Friday night draw. This is a record for the game – and the third largest in the history of the American lottery.

No ticket had the six winning numbers in Tuesday night drawing for what was a first prize of $ 667 million and, at the time, the biggest of all time for Mega Millions. These numbers were 3, 45, 49, 61, 69 with a Mega Ball of 9.

The cash value of Friday's jackpot is estimated at $ 494 million. For Tuesday, it was $ 380 million.

If the winner chooses the option of the annuity, the jackpot will be paid over 29 years. The cash option is usually favored by the winners.

Nine Mega Million tickets had the five white balls to win the second prize, $ 1 million. And one of these, sold in Texas, had the Megaplier option, available in most states for $ 1 more. This ticket is worth $ 5 million.

The jackpot continues to grow because no one has won since July 24, when 11 workers from a California office shared $ 543 million, the biggest gain ever won on a single ticket of the game.

Mega Millions said its previous record jackpot was a $ 656 million prize shared by winners from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland in March 2012.

"Everyone is talking about the jackpot and running to buy tickets for tonight's draw," said Gordon Medenica, senior director of Mega Millions and director of Maryland Lottery and Gaming, in a press release evoking Tuesday night's suspense. .

How to play Mega Millions

Mega Millions tickets cost $ 2 per coin and there are a total of nine ways to win a prize, ranging from $ 2 jackpot. You can play Mega Millions in 46 locations: 44 states plus Washington, DC and USA.

Wednesday powerball

The Powerball jackpot to be won Wednesday night will be a hefty $ 345 million, with a value of $ 199 million.

The biggest jackpot of Powerball – and the largest in the history of the US lottery – is $ 1.586 billion, shared between the winners in California, Florida and Tennessee in January 2016.

Chances of winning

the chances to win a jackpot remain disappointing at 1 out of 258.9 million for Mega Millions and 1 out of 292.2 million for Powerball.

Who buys lotto tickets?

The average American spends about $ 223 a year on lottery tickets, according to a LENDedu survey. The people of Massachusetts have the greatest taste for playing odds, spending close to $ 763 a year in lottery tickets, according to the study. The North Dakota are at the opposite end of the spectrum, spending about $ 44 a year on the lottery, the lowest average among residents of all 50 states.

Aimee Picchi contributed to this report.