News writer, Interviewer
Mega Millions fever struck Virginia on Tuesday, March 19th's drawing. Over 66,000 tickets purchased in the state landed prizes ranging from $2 to $1 million.
While no Virginia ticket, or any ticket elsewhere, matched all six numbers to win the then $893 million jackpot, the prize pool continues to grow. The estimated jackpot for Friday's Mega Millions drawing is a staggering $977 million!
One ticket wins $1 Million
One Virginian is celebrating a million-dollar win. A ticket bought at Joe's Kwik Marts on 1555 Holland Road in Suffolk matched the first five numbers. This ticket was one of only four nationwide to achieve this feat. The store also receives a $10,000 bonus from the Virginia Lottery for selling the winning ticket.
The winning numbers for the March 19th drawing were 24-46-49-62-66, and the Mega Ball number was 7. The winner has 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prize. The Virginia Lottery advises signing the back of the ticket immediately and contacting them when ready to claim the life-changing sum.
What is Mega Millions?
Twice a week, Mega Millions offers players the chance to win a massive jackpot or other cash prizes. Tickets cost $2, and the jackpot keeps growing until someone wins. The prize can be shared by a single person or multiple winners.
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday. Check the results on the Virginia Lottery website or visit any retailer to scan your ticket and see if you're a winner. Ticket sales close at 10:45 PM on draw nights, so get yours early! Sales are final, and tickets cannot be canceled.
Play online or choose your numbers
Open a Virginia Lottery account to play Mega Millions online and never miss a chance to win! You can also choose your numbers on a playslip. Pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and a Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.
If you feel indecisive, let the computer choose your numbers with Easy Pick. You can even combine both methods by picking some favorites and letting the computer fill in the rest.
Multiply your winnings with Megaplier
For an extra $1 per play, add Megaplier to your ticket. This feature can multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, or even 5, potentially boosting your winnings up to a whopping $5 million!
More ways to play
Want to play the same numbers for multiple drawings? Try a Multi-Draw ticket, letting you play up to 26 consecutive draws at once. You can also purchase a Future Draw ticket or repeat your play and have them printed on multiple tickets. Remember to tell your clerk which option you choose.
If you want a shot at the big prize, consider this: For $3, you can get two Easy Pick plays, each with a chance to win only the jackpot. Find this option at the bottom of the playslip (retail only).
The Virginia Lottery supports education
The Virginia Lottery was established in 1987. It dedicates all its profits to supporting K-12 public education in the state. Since 1999, over $867 million has directly benefited Virginia's schools. This funding comes from ticket sales, with proceeds historically used for various purposes before voters overwhelmingly approved their exclusive allocation to education in 2000.
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