ALBUQUERQUE – Ticket sales for tonight’s Mega Millions® drawing have pushed the game’s jackpot to $425 million. Originally, the jackpot was $400 million.
In addition to enriching the jackpot between drawings, New Mexico Lottery interim CEO David Barden said the sales rush will bring more revenue to New Mexico’s Legislative Lottery Scholarship program.
“Our players are making winners of college students across New Mexico,” Barden said. “By buying a lottery ticket, they’re making an investment in a brighter future for New Mexico.”
Barden reminded first-time players to sign their tickets as soon as they’re purchased.
“Tickets are bearer instruments and any prize owed on a ticket will be paid to the person who signs it,” Barden said.
New Mexico Lottery players have until 8:45 p.m. MT to buy tickets for tonight’s 9 p.m. drawing.
The jackpot’s cash option is $228.2 million before taxes.
In addition to the jackpot, there are eight prize levels ranging between $1 and $1 million. The game’s Megaplier® option multiples non-jackpot prizes up to $5 million. Megaplier costs $1 per wager.
The odds of winning a jackpot are approximately 1 in 259 million. The odds of winning any Mega Millions prize are approximately 1 in 15.
The game’s record jackpot of $656 million was shared by players from Illinois, Kansas and Maryland in March 2012.
Legislative Lottery Scholarships
All profits from the sale of New Mexico Lottery games fund an in-state college tuition assistance program. Since 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised $586 million for education and more than 90,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships. More information about Legislative Lottery Scholarships is available at www.nmlottery.com.
Follow the New Mexico Lottery on Facebook (www.facebook.com/nmlottery) and YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/NewMexicoLottery).