Big John and Ramblin Ray are joined by Jason Schaumburg, the Illinois Lottery’s communications director, who speaks out about the history of Mega Millions. Plus The Mega Millions jackpot, which has reached an estimated $970 million, making it the largest sum in the game’s history – and the second largest in U.S. lottery history.
Dwayne Lungren rejoins Big John & Ramblin’ Ray as the VFW’w Queen of Hearts contest reaches its grand finale. After John and Ray discuss their plan to win the over $4 million jackpot, Dwayne talks about the logistics of the event, including ticket sales, food trucks, and how the winner will be announced. Lungren also looks forward to how this event will allow for major upgrades to the McHenry VFW.
(CHICAGO) The Powerball jackpot has risen to $485 million, making it the third largest in the game’s history.
With no winner in Saturday’s drawing, the Powerball jackpot increased to $485 million, according to a statement from the Illinois Lottery. The winning numbers in Saturday’s drawing were 5-10-21-34-58, with a Powerball of 33.
The next drawing will take place Wednesday.
The largest Powerball jackpot was $590.5 million in May 2013, while the second biggest was $587.5 million in November 2012.
The $485 million jackpot has a cash value of $327.7 million as a lump sum payout, or $233.5 million after taxes, according to the statement. Odds of winning the top prize are one in 175,223,510.
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(CHICAGO) Someone still has yet to claim Friday’s $270 million Mega Millions jackpot, and lottery officials don’t want the winner to wait until after the holiday weekend to claim their prize.
The ticket was sold at Bucky’s Express, 1202 Bloomingdale Road in Glendale Heights and hit all six numbers: 26, 32, 44, 45, 58 plus the Mega Ball of 11, the Illinois Lottery said in a statement.
The overall odds of winning the jackpot were one in 258,890,850.
“Given the long holiday weekend, we want the winner to know they don’t have to wait until Tuesday to come to a lottery office to make their claim, we will come to them,” said Lottery Director Michael Jones. ”If you are holding the winning $270 million Mega Millions ticket please call 217-524-5158 immediately.”
The winner will have to decide whether to claim the prize as a one-time payment of about $181 million, or to opt to be paid in 30 consecutive annual payments that increase 5 percent per year, the lottery said.
Since Nov. 4, the run-up to the $270 million jackpot, more than 21 drawings have produced more than 37.7 million winning tickets across all prize levels, including the one jackpot winner and 25 second-tier prizes of $1 million or more, the lottery said.
The jackpot has a cash value of $177 million, or $126.11 million after withholding, the lottery said. The overall odds of winning the jackpot were one in 258,890,850.
It is the eighth jackpot won by an Illinois player since Mega Millions began in 2002, the lottery said.
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