The Mega Millions jackpot has surged to an estimated $944 million for the Christmas Eve drawing, potentially becoming the largest December lottery prize in U.S. history. The drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST on Tuesday at the Georgia Lottery headquarters in Atlanta.

The jackpot hasn't been claimed since September 10, when a Texas ticket won $810 million. The current prize offers a cash option of $429.4 million and ranks as the seventh-largest in Mega Millions history.

Friday's December 20 drawing (2, 20, 51, 56, 67, Mega Ball 19) produced over two million winning tickets across non-jackpot prizes, including:

• Five $1 million winners (matching five white balls)
• 48 tickets winning $10,000 (four white balls plus Mega Ball)
• 1.36 million tickets winning $2 (matching Mega Ball only)

Important Changes Coming:

• Starting April 2025, ticket prices will increase from $2 to $5
• Megaplier will be automatically included
• Odds remain at 1 in 302,575,350
• No changes to ball numbers (70 white, 25 Mega)

Notable: A $1.128 billion winning ticket sold in Neptune, N.J., in March 2024 remains unclaimed. The winner has until March 26, 2025, to claim this fifth-largest prize in Mega Millions history.

Powerball's current jackpot stands at $103 million, with slightly better odds at 1 in 292.2 million, and includes a 10x Power Play multiplier option due to the jackpot being under $150 million.

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