Mega Millions and Powerball Jackpot Continue to Soar, Chances to Win Still Remain Very Low

By Yehudit Garmaise

    Both the jackpots of the Mega Millions and the Powerball have soared to more than $400 million, but the odds of matching all five numbers and the Powerball number is 1 in about 293 million, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. 

    Tonight at 11pm, the Powerball lottery will choose new winning numbers, and the Mega Millions lottery will do so on Friday at 11pm. 

    Today is only the third time that both lottery jackpots have totaled more than $400 million at the same time. 

    The Mega Millions windfall is now estimated to be $490 million for Friday's drawing, and the Powerball’s prize is estimated to reach $410 million.

    After Tuesday night’s winning numbers went unclaimed, the amount of the lotteries’ winnings keeps rising.

    The high number of the lotteries’ prizes indicate that people are coming out more often to buy lottery tickets.

    The jackpots during COVID-19 have been smaller because people were not leaving home as often to buy lottery tickets, said TJ Holmes, who is a television talk show host.

    "You have to buy the tickets to get the jackpots up, but you have to get the jackpots up to get people to buy more tickets," Holmes said.