There were no tickets sold with all six numbers in the latest multi-state Mega Millions draw, and the estimated jackpot for Tuesday's drawing will grow to $24 million, lottery officials announced Friday night. Five tickets -- two sold in California and one each in Georgia, Ohio and Virginia -- had five numbers, but didn't have the Mega number. The value of the ones sold in California is expected to be announced Saturday, while the others are worth $250,000 each.
State law requires major payoffs of California Lottery games to be paid on a pari-mutuel basis. The numbers drawn tonight were 15, 16, 20, 39, 40 and the Mega number is 26. The estimated jackpot was $16 million. The drawing was the second since the last time a ticket with all six numbers was sold. A ticket sold in New York for last Friday's draw had all six numbers and was worth $26 million.
The odds of matching all five numbers and the Mega number is 1 in 175,711,536, according to the Mega Millions Web site.
Besides California, the Mega Millions game is played in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.
California Lottery officials reminded the public that borrowing money to play the lottery, spending above a person's budget or using money intended for other purposes can ultimately lead to significant problems for players and their families. People with gambling problems or knowing individuals with gambling problems are advised to call the Problem Gambling Help Line, (800) Gambler.
