The nation’s two big jackpot games are climbing, bringing big wins to players and big wins to education in North Carolina.
The jackpot for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing is $367 million or $213.9 million cash. The jackpot for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing is $229 million or $134.3 million cash.
“Every time someone buys a ticket, they’re helping fund education in the state,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “They’re not only getting the chance to win a life-changing prize, but they’re helping students in North Carolina.”
Together, these Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots have raised an estimated $10.2 million for education as North Carolinians have tried their luck at winning one of the two jackpots.
Players are also winning big prizes in these games. On Saturday, Laura Medlin, a school bus driver from Concord, won $2 million playing Powerball. A second winning ticket worth $50,000 was sold at the Circle K on West Wendover Avenue in Greensboro. The winner has not claimed the prize yet. There are nine ways to win playing each game.
The lottery is giving players another chance to win by extending the fun of the draw games into a scratch-off ticket. A new Mega Millions/Powerball instant game launched Tuesday and has four top prizes of $200,000. Each $5 ticket also gives players a chance to win a free Quick Pick ticket for the Powerball or Mega Millions drawing.
Draw games like Powerball and Mega Millions make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $650 million dollars a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.