Mega Millions March 5: When Is The Drawing For $40 Million Jackpot?

Two months of bad luck for Mega Millions lottery players were broken last Friday night. For the first time since the first day of the new year, someone actually guessed all six numbers and won the $267 million jackpot.

Life goes on for the Mega Millions lottery, however, with another drawing on Tuesday night. Players can purchase tickets before 11 p.m. ET for a chance to win the new, significantly smaller jackpot of $40 million. It also carries a cash option of $23.8 million.

That figure is the default jackpot number for the Mega Millions lottery. It always reverts back to a $40 million grand prize whenever someone manages to win the jackpot. For each week that nobody claims the biggest Mega Millions prize, the jackpot increases by at least $5 million.

In order to play, tickets must be purchased at a price of $2 apiece. Players pick six numbers, with the first five coming from one pool of numbers and the final one coming from a different pool. Anyone who correctly guesses all six numbers get the jackpot, but there are smaller prizes for guessing fewer numbers correctly. For example, guessing five numbers correctly is worth $1 million.

Anyone who does not win money on Tuesday night can also play the Powerball lottery on Wednesday night. There will be another Mega Millions lottery on Friday night.