What Time Is Tonight's Mega Millions Drawing

Powerball and Mega Millions lottery tickets are displayed on Jan. 3, 2018, in San Anselmo, Calif. For the first time the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are both more than $400 million.

The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots at present full more than $950 million combined after Wednesday's drawing failed to produce a winner.

And this stretch is the kickoff time that both multi-state lottery grand prizes take been at more than $400 one thousand thousand each. That makes Saturday's Powerball $550 million jackpot potentially the 8th largest lottery prize ever and Fri's Mega Millions $418 million pot potentially the 16th largest lottery prize.

The winning numbers for Wednesday dark's Powerball drawing were 2, 18, 37, 39, 42 and the Powerball was 12. The Ability Play number was iii.

Wed's Powerball jackpot worth $460 million was the game'south seventh largest and 10th largest for all lottery games in the United States, according to Dennis Rosebrough, public relations director for the Hoosier Lottery.

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Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing would have netted a winner $361 one thousand thousand jackpot.

Here'due south what you lot need to know if you lot play Powerball or Mega Millions:

What is a winning ticket worth?

The Powerball jackpot now stands at $550 million for Sat'due south drawing, payable in 30 annual installments, with a one-fourth dimension greenbacks selection of $347.9 million before taxes.

The Mega Millions 1000 prize is $418 million for Friday night'due south cartoon with a cash value of $261 million before taxes.

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No affair how a winner chooses to go, lottery prizes that hefty are taxed as ordinary income and put a winner in the highest tax subclass. And then that'south $128.vii one thousand thousand for the feds correct off the top of that Powerball lump sum, not counting state and local taxes.

One benefit of winning at present vs. last year: The new federal tax cutting will allow the winner of Saturday'south Powerball jackpot who chooses the ane-time cash selection to keep about $ix 1000000 more than for himself.

When are the drawings?

Powerball numbers are drawn at ten:59 p.grand. ET every Wed and Saturday. Mega Millions numbers are drawn at xi p.yard. every Tuesday and Friday.

Notice out where to sentinel the drawings on your local TV station past heading to your state lottery'southward webpage. (Pitiful, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah; you can't play unless you lot cross state lines.)

If yous'd rather await online, Powerball's drawing is streamed here; some websites offering live streaming video of Mega Millions drawings, and Mega Millions' official YouTube channel posts its video soon later on the alive event.

Odds of winning

The odds of ownership a winning Powerball ticket are i in 25. The odds of hit the jackpot are 1 in more than than 292 million. The odds of becoming a millionaire past matching 5 numbers is i in more than 11.v million.

Mega Millions' odds of winning overall are a niggling better at i in 24. Still, the odds of winning the grand prize are ane in more than 302.5 million. A shot at matching 5 numbers for a $1 million is ane in more than 12.five.

You lot accept a better chance of achieving sainthood than winning either grand prize, ane in twenty million, co-ordinate to Gregory Baer, author of Life: The Odds.

How much does it price to play?

Powerball and Mega Millions tickets sell for $2 each.

Powerball players can add Ability Play for an extra $1 per ticket for a chance to multiply a non-jackpot prize up to 5 times.

Mega Millions players can purchase the Megaplier for an actress $1 a ticket for a chance to multiply a non-jackpot prize upward to five times.

How to play Powerball

How to play Mega Millions

If you win ...

Rosebrough recommends that players sign and secure their ticket. Winners should call the number on the back of their ticket when they are ready to claim their prize.

"Get-go, you should suspension and have a deep breath," Rosebrough said. "And so, our experience with past winners says you should consult with some experts whether they exist accounting, legal or any if you have a major prize."

Rosenbrough has been impressed with well-nigh Indiana winners. Most have had a plan in place before they attempt to receive the money.

How long before y'all get paid?

Both Powerball and Mega Millions officials transfer the money from a central depository of all districts selling tickets — that includes 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Powerball; Mega Millions sells in all of those places except Puerto Rico — to respective state lotteries within 24 to 48 hours, Rosenbrough said.

However, the transfer sometimes tin can have longer because of things such as long holiday weekends.

Follow Chris Sims and Channing King on Twitter: @ChrisFSims and @ChanningKing