Powerball jackpot at $550 million, Mega Millions jackpot at $445 million, in-state Megabucks Doubler jackpot at $8.2 million
BRAINTREE, MA (JANUARY 4, 2018) – More than $1 billion dollars are available to be won this weekend across three jackpot games offered by the Massachusetts State Lottery. The Mega Millions jackpot for the Friday, January 5 drawing has been increased to an estimated $445 million, while the Powerball jackpot for the Saturday, January 6 drawing is an estimated $550 million, the first time ever that the advertised jackpots for these games are simultaneously over the $400 million mark. Additionally, the jackpot for Saturday’s in-state Megabucks Doubler drawing is an estimated $8.2 million.
The cash option on the Mega Millions prize is an estimated $277.6 million, while the cash option on the Powerball prize is an estimated $347.9 million. The cash option on the Megabucks Doubler prize is an estimated $6.47 million.
“The excitement surrounding these jackpots is a pleasant diversion from the extreme winter weather we’re experiencing,” said Michael Sweeney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts State Lottery. “We always encourage people to play the Lottery responsibly and this time, that also means following the directives of state and local officials by staying off the roads until conditions have improved. The Mega Millions drawing isn’t until Friday night. There will be plenty of time after the storm to venture out for a ticket.”
Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing will be the 24th since the jackpot was last hit October 13, when a $43 million jackpot was shared by tickets sold in Michigan and Rhode Island. The $445 million jackpot is the game’s highest since July 8, 2016, when a $536 million jackpot was won on a ticket sold in Indiana.
Saturday night’s Powerball drawing will be the 21st since the jackpot was last hit October 25, 2017, when a $191.1 million jackpot was won on a ticket sold in Louisiana. The $550 million jackpot is the game’s highest since August 23, 2017, when a $758.7 million jackpot was won on a ticket sold in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the largest jackpot ever won on a single ticket in U.S. lottery history.
The $8.2 million jackpot for Saturday night’s Megabucks Doubler drawing is the highest for this in-state game since March 11, 2017, when an $11.34 million jackpot was won on a ticket sold in Clinton.
Tickets for all of these drawings can be purchased at Massachusetts Lottery retailers throughout the state.
Game Cost of Ticket Deadline to Purchase Time of Drawing
Mega Millions $2 Friday, 10:45 p.m. Friday, 11:00 p.m.
Powerball $2 Saturday, 9:50 p.m. Saturday, 10:59 p.m.
Megabucks Doubler $1 Saturday, 10:45 p.m. Saturday, 11:20 p.m.
All drawings are available via the Lottery’s website – masslottery.com, and can also be viewed on the Lottery’s official Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts.