Due to high sales, officials in the states participating in the Mega Millionsยฎ Lotto game have increased the estimated jackpot amount for the Friday, August 9 drawing to $405 million or $197.7 million with the cash option selected.
The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million and continues to grow each drawing until it is won. There have been 18 consecutive Mega Millions drawings since June 7 without a jackpot winner.
The Nebraska Lottery began offering Mega Millions in March of 2010. The largest Mega Millions jackpot on record occurred in August 2023 when one ticket was sold in Florida for a $1.602 billion jackpot.
Mega Millions jackpot winners have two options for collecting their payment: 30 annuity payments or one cash payment at present value. Winning Mega Millions numbers are announced every Tuesday and Friday at 10:00 p.m. Central Time and posted at the Nebraska Lottery website, nelottery.com.
Know Your Limit
Because of the high jackpot, the Nebraska Lottery encourages customers to set limits and play within their means. โItโs important for Nebraska Lottery players to remember that no matter how large the Mega Millions jackpot is, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302 million,โ said Lottery Director Brian Rockey. โYour odds of winning remain the same, regardless of how many tickets are purchased or how many people play.โ Visit nelottery.com/knowyourlimit for more information on setting limits on your lottery play. If you or someone you know has a problem with compulsive gambling, free help is available at problemgambling.nebraska.gov.
The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $991 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lotteryโs beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.