News writer
Arkansas LOTTO players have a chance to make history this weekend, as the game's jackpot has climbed to $3.02 million for Saturday night's drawing. According to the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, this is the second-largest jackpot in LOTTO history and only the second time the prize has surpassed $3 million. The growing jackpot is giving Arkansas players plenty to get excited about, especially with another major lottery prize up for grabs this weekend.
Arkansas LOTTO approaches historic territory
The current $3.02 million jackpot is impressive, but it still has some catching up to do before breaking the game's all-time record. That record belongs to a $5.12 million jackpot claimed in 2025, which remains the largest in Arkansas LOTTO history.
Saturday's drawing marks just the second time the jackpot has crossed the $3 million threshold, putting it in rare territory for the Arkansas-exclusive game.
If nobody matches all six winning numbers Saturday, the jackpot could continue growing toward that record. However, the size of future jackpots will depend on ticket sales and other factors.
Unlike multi-state games such as Powerball and Mega Millions, LOTTO is available exclusively to Arkansas players.
LOTTO drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $2 per play, and players must match the first six numbers drawn, in any order, to win the jackpot.
Ticket sales close at 8:59 p.m. on drawing nights, giving players until just before the drawing to purchase their tickets.
Mega Millions offers another big jackpot
While Arkansas LOTTO is approaching a milestone of its own, Mega Millions is offering an even bigger prize. The Mega Millions jackpot has climbed to an estimated $529 million for Tuesday night's drawing, giving players another chance to chase a life-changing payday.
The massive jackpot comes just days after a lucky Powerball ticket sold in New Jersey won an $847 million jackpot in Wednesday's drawing.
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 10 p.m. Central Time, and tickets cost $5 per play. To win the jackpot, players must match five white balls numbered from 1 to 70 and the Mega Ball numbered from 1 to 24.
Every Mega Millions ticket also includes a built-in multiplier of 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X, which can increase non-jackpot prizes to as much as $10 million. In Arkansas, Mega Millions ticket sales close at 9:45 p.m. on drawing nights.
The Mega Millions jackpot hasn't been won since July 28, 2026, when a lucky ticket purchased in Bradenton, Florida, matched all six winning numbers to claim an $803 million prize.
That was the third Mega Millions jackpot win of 2026 and the 10th-largest in the game's history. Since then, the jackpot has continued growing, crossing the half-billion-dollar mark for tonight’s drawing.
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Where to buy lottery tickets in Arkansas
Players interested in either jackpot can purchase tickets at licensed Arkansas Lottery retailers. Tickets are also available through retailer apps offered by the lottery's Play on the Go partners.
Whether it's the historic $3.02 million Arkansas LOTTO jackpot or the much larger Mega Millions jackpot, players have two opportunities to dream big this weekend.
Enjoy playing the Arkansas Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
