Mega Millions jackpot hits $944 million for Christmas Eve drawing

LotteryMega Millions jackpot hits $944 million for Christmas Eve drawingBy Heather Morrison | hmorrison@masslive.comThe Mega Millions jackpot is nearly $1 billion ahead of the Christmas Eve drawing. The jackpot hit $944 million after there was no winner Friday night. If won, it’d be the largest Mega Millions prize ever won in December and the 7th largest in Mega Millions history. The drawing will take place at 11 p.m. on Tuesday. Tickets are $2 each and the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350."Thirteen Mega Millions jackpots have been won during December since the game began in 2002, but only once has it been won on Christmas Eve,“ Mega Millions said in a press release. ”That was in the game’s very first year, yet the $68 million prize won in New York on December 24, 2002, eventually went unclaimed." Unclaimed jackpots go back to the participating states based on their contribution to sales. The funds are then distributed as defined by the lottery legislation in each jurisdiction.But just because the jackpot prize hasn’t been won since Sept. 10, doesn’t mean smaller prizes haven’t been won.There have been more than 125 Mega Millions prizes won in Massachusetts since then. On Dec. 13, a $1 million prize was won after a ticket was purchased at Ghafour Fuel in Norwood. The Massachusetts State Lottery releases a full list of winning tickets every day. The list only includes winning tickets worth more than $600.So far, the largest lottery prize won in Massachusetts this year was worth $1 million a year for life.The prize was from the lottery’s “Lifetime Millions” scratch ticket game. The winner claimed their prize through a trust on July 10, and opted to receive a one-time payment of $15.4 million.3 winning Powerball tickets sold in MassachusettsMass. State Lottery winner: Lucky store sold 6 winning tickets FridayMega Millions jackpot creeps to $826 million ahead of Friday drawingMass. State Lottery winner: $4 million prize claimed in $10 gameIf you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.