Mega millions jackpot nears $1 billion ahead of July 26 drawing

Lottery players this week may benefit from a Mega Millions jackpot approaching $1 billion, one of the largest.

A drawing Friday night will determine whether anybody wins that $910 million prize, Colorado lottery spokesperson Meghan Dougherty said. That’s the fifth-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history. The largest was a $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in November 2022.

A ticket sold in Los Angeles on July 19 led to a person winning a $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot this month. California officials haven’t announced a winner for that jackpot.

Lottery winners can receive the full amount in regular payments over three decades, or opt for cash – significantly less. The cash option for the Mega Millions jackpot this week would be $464 million, Dougherty said.

Colorado receives revenues from the PowerBall lottery, funds that help Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Conservation Trust Fund, and Building Excellent Schools Today. This year, lottery officials say, the lottery will generate about $75.7 million for the state.

In a drawing on Tuesday, nobody won the $820 million prize, driving up the amount in the jackpot.

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