Contact: Chanele Newton (312) 368-5814

Two Rolling Jackpots have Illinoisans Seeing Dollar Signs

Mega Millions Jackpot at $120,000,000 and Powerball not far behind at $110,000,000

CHICAGO - September 10, 2012— Illinoisans are seeing green after two of the state’s most popular jackpots have catapulted to over $100 million. The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to an impressive $120 million with Powerball following closely behind at $110 million. With so much money to be won, lottery players are anticipating Tuesday night’s Mega Millions draw and Wednesday’s Powerball drawing.

“It’s not often we see both of our multi-state jackpot games above $100 million at the same time,” said Illinois Lottery Superintendent, Michael Jones. “It’s an exciting time to try your luck at either or both games.”

While no one won the jackpots over the weekend, over 37,000 Illinoisans won prizes ranging from $10,000 to $2 for Friday’s Mega Millions draw and 18,000 residents from the Land of Lincoln won prizes from $100 to $4 for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing – meaning over 55,000 Illinoisans won off of the two games.

Since Illinois introduced these multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball have collectively contributed an estimated $940 million to the Illinois Common School Fund and Capital Projects Fund.

QUICK MEGA MILLIONS FACTS

• Current Jackpot is $120 million with a cash option of $92 million; after withholding: $64.4 million
  
• Overall odds of winning a prize: 1:39.89
  
• Overall odds of winning the jackpot 1:175,711,536
  
• Mega Millions is a multi-state lottery game played in 42 states plus the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands for a total of 44 jurisdictions
  
• Mega Millions jackpots start at $12 million
  
• The very first jackpot Mega Millions winning ticket was sold on May 17, 2002, in Chatham, IL and resulted in a $28 million jackpot prize
  
• Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 p.m. CST
  
• On March 30, 2012, Mega Millions made history with the largest jackpot ever: $656 million
  
• Winning tickets were sold in Red Bud, Illinois, Kansas and Maryland
  

• Introduced in Illinois on January 31, 2010
  
• Current jackpot at $110 million; cash value of $72.4 million; after withholding: $50.6 million
  
• Overall odds of winning a prize: 1:31.8
  
• Overall odds of winning the jackpot 1:175,000,000
  
• Drawings are at 9:59 PM (CT) every Wednesday and Saturday
  
• Powerball is played in 44 lottery jurisdictions across the country
  
• Jackpots start at $40 million
  

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