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Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, July 26, 2022; jackpot now over $1 billion

John Connolly
NorthJersey.com

CHECK YOUR FRIDAY TICKETS HERE:Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, July 29, 2022 - $1.28 billion jackpot

Is today your lucky day?

Here are the Mega Millions winning numbers for Tuesday, July 26, 2022:

7 - 29 - 60 - 63 - 66 and Megaball 15

Megaplier was 3x

The jackpot was an estimated $830 million with a cash option of $487.9 million, according to the Mega Millions website. It is the third largest Mega Millions jackpot in history and the fourth largest lottery jackpot in the United States. (See charts below)

There was no winner so the Mega Millions is now over $1 billion for Friday, July 26's drawing. Nine tickets matched all five white balls to win million-dollar prizes.

The Mega Millions has not been won since April 15 when a ticket sold in Tennessee won $20 million – it was the second time in two drawings the jackpot was won.

Meanwhile, the Powerball jackpot is at $145 million with a cash option of $85.7 million, according to the Powerball website. 

Until recently, lottery winners in New Jersey were required to be identified, but now winners will be able to stay anonymous under a new law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.  

UPDATE:Mega Millions jumps to $1.28 billion on Friday afternoon ahead of drawing

How do I play Mega Millions?

Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot).

Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick for you.

Prizes vary from $2 for the matching the Mega Ball to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six balls. You can check all the prize payouts on the Mega Millions site here.

You don't need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident a particular state where you purchase your ticket.

Where can I play Mega Millions?

You can play the game in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states not offering Mega Millions are: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

Many grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores sell lottery tickets. Some states allow Mega Millions tickets to be purchased online, but beware of scam websites. Check with your state lottery for more details.

Powerball, Mega Millions:These are the luckiest states for jackpot winners

What are my odds of winning?

Playing the Mega Millions can be exciting, but just don't go spending those millions before you win.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 302,575,350-to-1.

The odds to match all five white balls are 12,607,306-to-1.

Unlucky? Here are 13 crazy things more likely to happen than winning the lottery

What does cash option mean?

The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.

The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year.

The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don't have to wait decades for all the money.

What was biggest Mega Millions jackpot?

Here are the Top 10 jackpots ever since the Mega Millions began in 1996:

  1. $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
  2. $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
  3. $830 million: July 26, 2022:
  4. $656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland 
  5. $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
  6. $543 million, July 24, 2018: Won in California
  7. $536 million, July 8, 20116: Won in Indiana
  8. $533 million: March 30, 2018: Won in New Jersey 
  9. $522 million: June 7, 2019: Won in California
  10. $515 million: May 21, 2021: Won in Pennsylvania

What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?

Here's a look at the top jackpots were won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:

  1. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
  2. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
  3. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
  4. $830 million, Mega Millions, July 26, 2022:
  5. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
  6. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
  7. $730 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
  8. $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
  9. $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
  10. $656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland