Mega Millions Jackpot Soars To $1.35B; Where To Buy Tickets In FL

FLORIDA — The Mega Millions jackpot will be $1.35 billion in Friday night’s drawing, spurring a rush to buy tickets in Florida.

Tonight's prize is the second-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, smaller only than the record $1.537 billion won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018.

The jackpot soared after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Tuesday: 8, 24, 30, 45, 61 and the Mega Ball of 12.

Jackpot winners have two options — to collect winnings through an annuity, with annual payments spread across 30 years, or to take the cash option — an estimated $659.5 million in Friday’s drawing. Winners may be subject to federal taxes. Many states also tax lottery winnings.

To be eligible for drawings, held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. Eastern Time, tickets must have been purchased that day by 10 p.m., under Florida lottery law.

There are about 13,000 retailers in Florida that sell Mega Millions and other lottery tickets, including:

• Publix
• 7-Eleven
• Circle K
• Winn Dixie
• Marathon
• Kwik Stop
• Walmart
• Stop N Shop
• Stop N Save
• Shell
• Mobil
• Wawa
• Chevron
• Racetrac
• Stop N Go

Many restaurants, bars and other businesses also sell lottery tickets. You can search the Florida Lottery site for retail sales sites.

Friday’s drawing will be the 31st since the jackpot was last won in New York on April 18, according to Mega Millions.

The odds of winning the jackpot are deplorable — about 1 in 302.6 million.
The odds of winning smaller prizes ranging from $2 to $1 million are significantly better.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.