AP.-
The first Mega Millions lottery drawing of the new year will have a big prize after nobody won the estimated jackpot of 685 million dollars on Friday.
The top prize was increased to $785 million before the next drawing, scheduled for Tuesday.
None of the tickets sold for Friday contained all six winning numbers, Mega Millions said in a statement early Saturday morning.
Friday's winning combination was 1, 3, 6, 44, 51 and the gold Mega Ball was 7.
A customer checks out a Mega Millions lottery ticket at a convenience store in Northbrook, Ill., on Jan. 6, 2021. Nam Y. Huh / AP
The jackpot has increased thanks to the very low chances of hitting, of one in 302.6 million, which resulted in 22 consecutive draws without a jackpot winner.
The estimated prize of 785 million dollars will go to the winner who opts for annual payments for 29 years.
Almost all the winners choose the single payment, which for Tuesday's draw is estimated at 395 million.
[Fort Myers resident wins $247 million in Mega Millions and news cheers community devastated by Ian]
The jackpot is the biggest since a $2.04 billion Powerball lottery prize was awarded in California on Nov. 8.
The winner of that record-breaking prize has yet to be announced.
Time is running out to participate in the $649 million Mega Millions
Dec 30, 202200:24
Mega Millions is played in 45 states and the district of Washington, DC, as well as the US Virgin Islands.
[A Mega Millions ticket purchased near Chicago wins $1.337 million jackpot]
The United States Mega Millions lottery jackpot has increased to $685 million ahead of Friday night's drawing, giving players the chance to ring in the New Year's chime with a much bigger bonus in their bank accounts.