Mega Millions Jackpot North Of $1 Billion
So you or your loved ones drove all the way to stateline and Santa came up empty. The Mega Millions jackpot didn’t hit and you’ve still got credit card debt….
The Mega Millions jackpot keeps growing and some incredibly lucky human will win it. Eventually.
SIphotography via iStock/Getty Images PlusSo you or your loved ones drove all the way to stateline and Santa came up empty. The Mega Millions jackpot didn't hit and you've still got credit card debt. Well, that's OK. Just another chance to throw money down on another absolutely infinitesimally unlikely to hit jackpot this Friday, and this time it is north of $1 Billion!
On Christmas Eve, December 24th, the drawing for the interstate Mega Millions jackpot didn't hit with the numbers 11, 14, 38, 45, 46, and the Mega Ball of 3. 2, 20, 51, 56, 67 and a Mega Ball of 19. Four people hit the $1 million dollar consolation prize, one number short of nearly 1000x the money. But hey, a million is a million.
Now the Mega Millions jackpot increases to an estimated $1.15 Billion with an after tax payout on the lump sum of $516.1 million. Which option should you choose? Installments or the lump sum? More on that in a second.
You'll have to buy your ticket by 7pm on Friday, December 27th to have it in time for the drawing at 8pm. Unfortunately for you, it isn't as simple as walking down the street to the local convenience store as it is for the vast majority of states in the country. So you'll need to take a hike to either California or Utah if you hope to cash in big.
Your Chances Are Low
Just know that your odds of winning the whole thing are beyond small. The odds of correctly getting five balls between 1-70 and the gold Mega Ball between 1-25 exactly correct are quite literally 1 in 302,575,350. To put that in perspective, you have a 1 in 3.7 million chance of being bitten by a shark.
But if you stay out of the water you can't get bitten, and if you don't play, you can't win. So, take that for what you will.
Say You Do Win The Mega Millions Jackpot: How Do You Take It?
When you hit Mega Millions (because of course you will, you're lucky, right!?), you have two options. You can either take the money as a "lump sum," in which case you'll get the cash option which is around half of the actual jackpot. You can also take the payment in installments. But they aren't as clear cut as you'd think.
Sure, taking the cash option is quite the shave. But getting the Mega Millions jackpot over 30 years is a slow drip as well. According to Mega Millions, if you take the installment plan you'll be given a check right away, with 29 annual checks to follow. Each check will increase by 5 percent, which means your checks to start would be kind of light.
If you don't trust yourself to do the right thing with the money to start, maybe it is best to take the annuity. If you mess up and splurge too much one year, it is nice to know a fat check will be coming in months. But if you think you can make more money with your money than 4.3% every year (which, barring a disaster, most will be able to do this,) you might be better off taking the lump sum.
11 Places To Buy A Lottery Ticket Near Las Vegas
Over the years, the Powerball Jackpot has broken the record as the largest in United States history. And every time it comes back around, Las Vegas residents are scrambling to find a place to buy a lottery ticket.
Most of us run down to Primm on the border of California, but the lines there get ridiculously long. Sometimes more than and hour, or worse. But since the lottery still isn't legal in Nevada, there aren't a lot of choices for locals who want to play.
Ways To Cash In Your Lottery Ticket After You Win
Of course, many people who do win don't want to wait for payments and instead choose to get paid all at once in a lump sum. Even though it's significantly less money, it's still amounts to a ton for the old bank account.
Still, the chance of someone winning the jackpot in Powerball isn't great. It's hard to do because all six balls (five white balls and the Powerball red) have to be matched up with the ticket.
But players still play because the odds of winning another prize in the lottery is much better than winning the Powerball jackpot. Those odds are about 1 in 24.9. That definitely makes a ticket worth the cost, even when you factor in the gas it takes us to get to it.
Because for Las Vegas residents, it's not as simple as just buying a ticket. Since our jurisdiction in Nevada prevents companies from selling lottery tickets, locals have to travel to cities around Southern Nevada to find one. And most of us flock to Primm because it's the obvious choice.
But what we gain in travel time, we lose in the time we take standing in that line. So, if you're looking to get into a drawing in the near future, maybe consider getting a ticket from one of these nearby cities. They're all less than a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas. And the lines are most likely shorter than the ones at the state line.
11 Places Close To Las Vegas To Buy A Lottery Ticket
1. The Lotto Store in Primm - 50 minutes
This is one of the most-popular places for Vegas locals to go for a lottery ticket. Just factor in time to stand in those lines when you plan your trip!
Shell Gas Station & Country Store - 1 hour, 6 minutes
If you don't want to wait in the Primm lines, you could drive another 17 minutes and get them at the Shell gas station in Nipton.
Last Stop Travel Center - 1 hour, 8 minutes
This is a popular place for Las Vegas locals to grab a ticket because it's just 30 miles southeast of Hoover Dam. In May of 2021 this stop sold a Triple Twist jackpot lottery ticket worth over $665K (news3lv.com).
Grand Canyon Texaco in White Hills - 1 hour, 11 minutes
Referred to as a Conoco on the map, this one is a quick 71 minutes away.
Charles Brown Market - 1 hour, 26 minutes
A drive through Pahrump into Shoshone, California can get you a ticket at the Charles Brown Market. Maybe gets some peanuts while you're there. ;)
Baker - 1 hour, 28 minutes
There are lots of places is Baker, California that sell lottery tickets. And less than a 90 minute drive.
Dolan Station - 1 hour, 27 minutes
In Dolan Springs, Arizona.
Maverik Adventure's First Stop - 1 hour, 43 minutes
In Bullhead City Arizona, this one is just a few minutes under a 2-hour drive.
Jeff’s River Mart - 1 hour, 46 minutes
If Maverick's in Bullhead City is too busy, there's another stop close by. Bring a friend and divide and conquer!
Terrible Herbst in Bullhead City - 1 hour, 45 minutes
Or bring two friends and divide and conquer.
Flying J Travel Center in Kingman - 1 hour, 54 minutes
And coming in at just under two hours is the Flying J in Kingman, Arizona.
