Mega Millions Jackpot Reaches $625 Million for October 17 Drawing

PEORIA, Illinois — The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $625 million for the drawing on Friday, October 17, with a cash option of $288.8 million. This increase follows a series of drawings where no ticket claimed the jackpot, pushing the prize higher.

The winning numbers for Friday’s drawing are 9, 21, 27, 48, 56, and the Mega Ball is 10. Players must match the numbers drawn to win various prizes, including a minimum of $10 for matching just the Mega Ball.

According to lottery officials, players can still participate in the game by purchasing tickets until 10:45 p.m. CT on draw nights, which occur every Tuesday and Friday at approximately 10 p.m. The cost of a Mega Millions ticket is $5 per play, and it includes a built-in multiplier that can increase non-jackpot prizes.

Last week’s drawing resulted in two big winners: one ticket from Texas and one from Arizona, each winning $2 million for matching five numbers plus a 2X multiplier. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot, which involves matching all five white balls and the Mega Ball, are 1 in 290 million.

In addition to the jackpot, there are nine other ways to win prizes in the Mega Millions game. Players can either select their own numbers or opt for the Quick Pick option, which randomly generates numbers for them.

The next drawing for Mega Millions is slated for Tuesday, October 21. This growing jackpot is noted as the ninth-largest Mega Millions prize to date, following a string of previous large jackpots that have caught the attention of players across the country.