MEGA Millions players have been urged to check their numbers as a prize worth $1 million is up for grabs.
The slip was bought at a convenience store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana ahead of the draw on Tuesday.
The gambler purchased the slip at a Town South Food Mart, as reported by the local radio station KEEL.
It was just one of the tickets that landed a $1 million prize, having matched five numbers.
The ticket holder has 180 days to claim their prize, according to the state.
But they must take their winning ticket to the headquarters in Baton Rouge.
The player defied the odds of one in 12.6 million to win the prize but missed out on the jackpot by one number.
Once the prize is claimed, the player will pay 24% to the federal government in tax.
Then, they will have to pay the state a rate of 4.25%.
No player prevailed on Tuesday night, which means the jackpot has rolled over.
It now stands at an estimated $825 million.
The prize pot has a cash value of $382.2 million.
If the jackpot is won on Friday, then they could be a multi-millionaire by Christmas.
Mega Millions bosses have revealed if the prize is won, it will be the largest-ever jackpot scooped in December.
No player has won the Mega Millions jackpot on Christmas Day, however, according to the organization.
There have been 13 Mega Millions jackpot wins in the month during the history of the game.
The Mega Millions jackpot has not been won since September, when a player in Texas won $810 million.
Mega Millions Updates in 2025
Mega Millions is making eight crucial changes to its lottery game starting in April 2025. Each is listed below:
- Bigger jackpots occurring more frequently
- Odds improved for jackpot wins
- Larger jackpot starting points
- Jackpots grow faster than before
- Tickets include a built-in multiplier that automatically adds 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or even 10X for wins
- Matching all five white balls now results in up to a $10 million win
- Wins are always more than the cost of the ticket
- The cost of a ticket is increasing to $5
The game’s prizes range from $2 to the jackpot, but a raft of changes are just months away.
In April, gamblers will see improved odds of winning the top prize.
There will be larger starting jackpots, and prize pots will grow faster.
Breakeven prizes will soon become a thing of the past.
This means players will be able to win more than the cost of a ticket.
But, the cost of a Mega Millions ticket will rise to $5.
This is only the game’s second price rise in its entire history since it launched in 2002.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.