The US is home to the two largest lotteries on the planet, these are Powerball and Mega Millions. These lotteries aren’t just about winning big, they are known for their massive jackpots, which have reached several hundred million dollars in the past, the possibilities are endless. You could buy the most expensive cars, a mansion, or even a private island. But it’s not just about the money, the thrill of the game, the excitement of the draw anticipating if you are the winner or not, and the sense of togetherness or community that come along with playing the lottery.
Powerball Lottery
The Powerball lottery is one of the largest and most popular lotteries in the United States, with jackpots that can reach hundreds of millions of dollars. It is a multi-state lottery game, the game is played in 45 states, as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball drawings are held twice a week, typically on Wednesdays and Saturdays, a third weekly drawing held on Monday was added on August 23, 2021. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10.59 pm Eastern Time.
To play Powerball, participants choose five numbers from a set of 69 white balls and one Powerball number from a set of 26 red balls. The jackpot is won matching all five white balls and the red Powerball number. In short,
if a player matches all six numbers, they win the jackpot However, there are multiple prize tiers for matching fewer numbers as well, with prizes ranging from 4 dollars to 1 million dollars.
Powerball is known for its massive jackpots, which have reached record-breaking amounts. The largest Powerball jackpot ever won was a staggering $1.6 billion, shared by three winning tickets in January 2016.
Mega Millions Lottery
The Mega Millions lottery is another major lottery game in the United States. Just like the Powerball Lottery, its jackpot can reach hundreds of millions of dollars and also it is a multi-state lottery available in 45 states, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mega Millions drawings are typically held twice a week, usually on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 pm Eastern Time.,including Holidays.
To play Mega Millions, players select five numbers from a pool of 70 white balls and one Mega Ball number from a collection of 25 gold balls. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls and the Mega Ball. Like Powerball, there are multiple prize tiers for matching fewer numbers with winnings prizes ranging from 2 dollars to 5Million dollars.
The first big game of Mega Millions drawing was held in 2002 back then it was offered in only 6 states.
Mega Millions has also produced enormous jackpots throughout its history. It holds the record for the second-largest lottery jackpot ever won in the United States. The largest Mega Millions jackpot to date was $1.537 billion, won by a single ticket in October 2018.