Powerball and Mega Millions are offering so much money this week, and here’s how you can play

Although the odds are slim, it’s always fun to daydream about what we’d do if we won the lottery. And this week, the game of chance is looking more appealing than ever with over $1 billion available in Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots.

Both jackpots haven’t had a winner in nearly two months, making both prizes some of the largest ever. A lucky Mega Millions winner would take home $450 million, while the main prize for Powerball has a $570 million value. The current Powerball prize is the fifth largest since the game’s inception. And this Mega Millions jackpot is the fourth largest in the competition’s history. Lucky players can choose to have their winnings paid out to them over 29 years or accept a smaller cash prize upfront.

The Mega Millions drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST today, January 5th, while the Powerball numbers will be announced at the same time tomorrow, January 6th.

So how much are Mega Millions and Powerball tickets?

Both Powerball and Mega Millions tickets cost $2 each. Mega Millions changed their pricing in October to meet players’ demands for higher payouts. Players can still purchase $1 tickets to enter to win smaller prizes, or, in some states, they can purchase a $3 ticket to be entered twice in only the jackpot drawing.

Where can you get tickets?

You can buy Mega Millions tickets in the Virgin Islands, Washington D.C., and every state except Utah, Nevada, Mississippi, Alaska, Hawaii, and Alabama (Powerball operates in the same locations). Locations where tickets are sold are listed on state lottery websites. Tickets are sold until one hour before the winning numbers are drawn. Residents of certain states can also buy lottery tickets online.

What are the odds?

The last winning Mega Millions numbers were 1, 42, 47, 64, and 70, with the Mega Ball number 22 on January 2nd. Unfortunately, the chances of winning either Powerball or Mega Millions are tiny. There is a 1 in 303 million chance of winning Mega Millions, and a slightly higher 1 in 292 million chance of winning Powerball.

But even the odds are most definitely not in our favor, we still love to think about the ridiculous things we’d do if we won the lottery. Good luck to everyone who decides to play.