DATE: JAN. 5, 2021

CONTACT: GARCELLE VIERRA

PHONE: (919) 368-9863

Mega Millions, Powerball offer jackpots over $400 million this week

−Third time in history both games have simultaneous jackpots over $400 million−

RALEIGH – North Carolinians have two chances to take home a jackpot of more than $400 million in this week’s Powerball and Mega Millions drawings.

The Mega Millions jackpot has been growing since the Sept. 15 drawing when a $120 million jackpot was won with a ticket sold in Wisconsin.

The estimated annuity jackpot for Tuesday’s drawing has been increased to $447 million, making it the 9th-largest in the game’s history. The estimated cash value is $339.6 million.           

The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million.

North Carolinians also have a chance at a big jackpot win in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing. The Powerball jackpot stands at an estimated $410 million as an annuity prize or $316.4 million cash.

This is the highest the Powerball jackpot has been since March 2019 when a $768.4 million jackpot was won in Wisconsin. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

“Seeing two drawings with two life-changing jackpots of this size at the same time is exciting,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “This is only the third time in the history of these two games that they have simultaneously offered jackpots larger than $400 million.”

At $857 million, this is the highest combined jackpot total for Mega Millions and Powerball since October 2018.

Both games offer other ways to win besides the jackpot. For $2 tickets, Mega Millions prizes range from $2 to $1 million and Powerball prizes range from $4 to $1 million.

Players can buy $2 Powerball or Mega Millions tickets at any lottery retail location, through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com, or by using the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

Ticket sales from both games help raise money for education. Since both jackpots started rolling in September, tickets sales have raised an estimated $23.4 million for education programs in North Carolina.

For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.

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Garcelle Vierra
Public Relations Specialist
Brand Management & Communications

2728 Capital Blvd. Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604

O 919.301.3620 M 919.368.9863

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