Virginia witnessed a significant turn of luck when a single ticket purchased in the state matched all six numbers in the June 27 Mega Millions drawing, securing a monumental jackpot of $348 million, which equates to around $155.5 million in cash. This win marked the fourth jackpot victory of the year, following prior wins in Arizona and Illinois, and underscored the game’s recent surge in popularity.
The winning numbers included the white balls 18, 21, 29, 42, and 50, along with the gold Mega Ball 2. With this latest victory, Virginia has celebrated its tenth Mega Millions jackpot, making it the state’s largest win since 2016. Notably, Virginia was one of the six state lotteries that launched the original Big Game back in 1996, which later evolved into Mega Millions in 2002.
Since the introduction of a new $5 ticket price in April, the game has demonstrated a remarkable increase in lower-tier prize winnings. This change has led to nearly 4.9 million winning tickets across various prize tiers, accumulating nearly $120 million in total non-jackpot prizes. These figures suggest a substantial improvement compared to prior prize distributions, illustrating a more favorable outcome for players in the revamped game format.
The recent jackpot run, which began after the last major win on April 18, produced eight substantial second-tier prizes, demonstrating the benefits of the multiplier mechanism. Winners across multiple states claimed notable prizes, including four tickets that earned $2 million each in Virginia, Colorado, Georgia, and Washington. Other amounts reached $3 million and $4 million, awarded in California, New Jersey, and Tennessee, proving that the new format has invigorated the game and its participants.
During the June 27 drawing, a total of 299,888 winning tickets were distributed, showcasing widespread engagement. Among these, five tickets matched four white balls and the Mega Ball, leading to third-tier prizes ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 across several states. California, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Vermont were among the states benefiting from this distribution of rewards.
Looking ahead, the Mega Millions jackpot resets for the next drawing on July 1, starting at $50 million. This new base level also reflects the enhancements made to the game, contributing to participant excitement and increasing anticipation among players.
Mega Millions remains a principal lottery game in the U.S., known for producing seven jackpot winners of over $1 billion, with the most recent record set in Florida at $1.602 billion in August 2023. Tickets are available in 45 states, including Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, enhancing accessibility for hopeful players.
Drawings are held at 11 p.m. Eastern Time every Tuesday and Friday, ensuring consistent opportunity for ticket holders. As it stands, the overall odds of winning any prize in Mega Millions are 1 in 23, while the odds of hitting the jackpot remain at a daunting 1 in 290 million, underscoring the thrill and challenge of playing the game.