Beyond Powerball: Other jackpots worth watching this week

Yes, we can admit, it's exciting when a jackpot grows past $1 billion. That's what everyone is going to talk about, as they should. However, there are other jackpots out there that could also offer you life-changing winnings.

From Mega Millions and SuperLotto Plus to Lotto Texas and Pick-6, all of these draw games are offering seven-figure jackpots this holiday week. We break down some of those jackpots for you below. I mean, who wouldn't want one of these jackpots as a Christmas present this week?

Fourth-largest Powerball jackpot

This Christmas holiday week will kick off with a huge jackpot. In fact, the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history is up for grabs for the Monday, December 22, drawing.

No tickets matched all the winning numbers on Saturday night, which pushed tonight’s jackpot to an estimated $1.6 billion, with a cash option of $735.3 million. The last Powerball jackpot win came on September 6 when two tickets in Missouri and Texas matched all the winning numbers drawn that night to split the $1.79 billion prize.

That jackpot happened to be the second-biggest Powerball jackpot in the draw game's history. Now, here we are, 46 draws later, and we are at $1.6 billion. This is only the second time in Powerball history that the game has produced back-to-back jackpots exceeding $1 billion.

Other big jackpots are available this holiday week

The focus is definitely on Powerball and that fourth-largest jackpot being up for grabs this holiday season. However, there are other jackpots out there making some noise too.

These other jackpots, which are primarily in-state draw games, offer better odds to win. While it would be amazing to win the Powerball jackpot tonight, it would be just as amazing to win the Lotto Texas or SuperLotto Plus drawing. No one is going to complain about winning $13 million, right?

In addition to in-state draw games having better odds, there are fewer people buying tickets. You have better chances of winning an in-state draw game, where there are some very big jackpots available across the country:

• Mega Millions – The multi-state draw game's jackpot is currently at $100 million for the Tuesday, December 23 drawing.
• New York Lotto – This New York Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $13.9 million for the Wednesday, December 24 drawing.
• SuperLotto Plus – This California Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $13 million for the Wednesday, December 24 drawing.
• Lotto America – The multi-state draw game's jackpot is currently at $10.18 million for the Monday, December 22 drawing.
• Lotto – This Illinois Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $9.5 million for the Monday, December 22 drawing.
• Megabucks – This Massachusetts Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $9.1 million for the Monday, December 22 drawing.
• Hoosier Lotto – This Indiana Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $9 million for the Wednesday, December 24 drawing.
• Florida Lotto – This Florida Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $8.75 million for the Wednesday, December 24 drawing.
• Lotto Texas – This Texas Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $8.75 million for the Monday, December 22 drawing.
• Pick-6 – This New Jersey Lottery draw game's jackpot has climbed to $6.9 million for the Monday, December 22 drawing.

Enjoy playing the lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.