Mega Millions jackpot increases to $1.1B after Friday’s drawing

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP/Gray News) — Lottery players whose numbers didn’t hit or who forgot to even buy a ticket had another shot at a nearly $1 billion Mega Millions prize when a drawing was held Friday night.

The numbers drawn on Friday were 3, 20, 46, 59 and 63. The Mega Ball was 13.

According to Mega Millions, there are no tickets that matched all six numbers.

The jackpot, which has been growing for more than two months, now increases to $1.1 billion and would be the third-largest in U.S. history if claimed.

Even as the prize grows larger, the odds of winning remain the same at one in 302.6 million.

Elijah Kouza, assistant manager of Buscemis convenience store in the Detroit suburb of Livonia, Michigan, said the Mega Millions jackpot is drawing lots of customers.

“When the big games get this high, that’s when people that never play the lottery got to come in,” he said. “The Mega and Power is more of a fantasy than anything. But all it takes is one.”

At Buscemis, which sells liquor, pizza and, of course, lottery tickets, the $940 million jackpot was prominently displayed both outside and inside the store.

Kouza said the store will sell 20-25 Mega Millions tickets on a normal Friday.

“It’s kind of hilarious to me, because if it’s like $100 million, people are like, ‘Nah.’ They’ll pass,” he said.

The next drawing will be held Tuesday night.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

___

Associated Press reporter Mike Householder in Livonia, Michigan, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.