DES MOINES, IA (WSAU) — Casual lottery players listen up- your next crack at a combined $1.5 billion in prize money is Tuesday night with the Mega Millions drawing.
The jackpot for that game sits at $850 million. Powerball is on deck for Wednesday, with a prize pool of $730 million.
Both of those figures are for the yearly annuity payments. Cash options are typically about half of the amount of the jackpot.
No one has won the two most popular national lottery games since mid-September, causing the jackpots to roll into what is the largest combined prize pool in the history of the games.
Additionally, the jackpots have been growing more slowly due to changes that were put in place last spring when COVID-19 set in. Lottery officials adjusted jackpot increases to better reflect ticket sales and current interest rates as sales slowed due to stay-at-home orders that have been implemented in some states where the games are played.
Both Powerball and Mega Millions plays cost $2 with the option to purchase add ons that can increase the payout on smaller prizes. Games are played in 45 states and the District of Columbia, while Powerball is also played in Puerto Rico.
