Ohio lottery player wins $112 million Mega Millions jackpot

Yahoo

19-04-2025

The first jackpot has been won in the new and improved Mega Millions lottery.
One ticket sold in Ohio matched all six numbers to win the estimated $112 million jackpot, according to the Mega Millions website. The winner can also choose the cash option estimated at $49.3 million.
Where the ticket was sold in Ohio was not immediately released. This is the 21st time the Mega Millions has been won in Ohio.
The jackpot had last been won on March 25 when a lottery player in Illinois lottery player won a $349 million jackpot.
The Mega Millions revamped its game beginning with the April 8 drawing, raising ticket prices from $2 to $5 while promising bigger prizes and better odds (see the changes below).
One of the changes is that the jackpot will reset to $50 million now for the next drawing on Tuesday.
The Mega Millions winning numbers for Friday, April 18, 2025 were: 5 - 13 - 15 - 17 - 28 and Megaball 1
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Here's a look at the changes that Mega Millions announced on its website:
Ticket prices increases from $2 to $5 for April 8 drawing.
A multiplier is included with every ticket (it is an extra $1 now). A 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X or 10X multiplier is randomly assigned to your ticket at the time of purchase.
Matching the five white balls now pays between $2 million and $10 million with the built-in multiplier.
The minimum prize you can win is $10 and a maximum of $10 million for non-jackpot prizes.
Once a jackpot is won, the Mega Millions will start at $50 million instead of $20 million.
The number of Mega Balls changed from 25 to 24, meaning the odds of winning are better − changing from 1-in-302,575,350 to 1-in-290,472,336.
The odds for winning any prize also improved to 1-in-23 from 1-in-24.
Jackpot: remains the same.
Five white balls: increased from $1 million to minimum of $2 million and maximum of $10 million.
Four white balls plus Mega Ball: increased from $10,000 to minimum of $20,000 and maximum of $100,000.
Four white balls: increased from $500 to minmum of $1,000 and maximum of $5,000.
Three white balls plus Mega Ball: increased from $200 to minimum of $400 and maximum of $2,000.
Three white balls: increased from $10 to minimum of $20 and maximum of $100.
Two white balls plus Mega Ball: increased from $10 to minimum of $20 and maximum of $100.
One white ball plus Mega Ball: increased from $4 to minimum of $14 and maximum of $70.
Mega Ball: increased from $2 to minimum of $10 and maximum of $50.
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.
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The cost is now $5 per ticket and includes a multiplier that will increase the amount of your potential prize up to 10 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 24 for the Mega Ball. (down from 25 Mega Balls). However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick for you. You don't need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident of a particular state where you purchase your ticket.
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You can win at least $10 for the matching just one - the Mega Ball. Short of the jackpot, you can win a minimum of $2 million for matching all five white balls (except in California). You can check all the prize payouts on the Mega Millions site here.
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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.
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Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
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The deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket varies by state so don't wait until the last minute. It can be 15 minutes to an hour or more before the actual drawing. For some third-party lottery apps, the deadline can be closer to two hours before the drawing. For example, Jackpocket in New Jersey has a deadline of 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. ET drawing.
Click here to check the deadline for where you live.
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 290,472,336-to-1.
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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.
In some states, like New Jersey, you can win a lottery anonymously. That wasn't always the case, but now winners are able to stay anonymous under a law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy. In other states, a winner's name and hometown are a matter of public record. Check with your state lottery for more information.
Here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots ever:
$1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
$1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
$1.269 billion, Dec. 27, 2024: Won in California
$1.128 billion, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
$1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$810 million, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
$656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
$648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
Here's a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:
$2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
$1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
$1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
$1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
$1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
$1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
$1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
$1.326 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
$1.269 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024: Won in California
$1.128 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
$1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
$1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
$842.4 million, Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
$810 million, Mega Millions, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
$768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
$758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
$754.6 million, Powerball: Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
$731.1 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
$699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
$687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mega Millions $112 million jackpot won in Ohio