(Tega Cay Sun) – Lottery players will get a chance on Friday night to win an estimated $1.25 billion Mega Millions jackpot, which has been steadily growing for months without a grand prize winner. There have been 30 consecutive drawings since the last jackpot winner on April 18, allowing the prize to become the sixth-largest ever in the U.S.
Winning the jackpot is extremely difficult, with odds of 1-in-302.6 million of matching all the numbers. However, the odds are better for smaller prizes, starting at $2.
The $1.25 billion prize is paid over 30 years through an annuity for the sole winner. Alternatively, choosing a lump sum payout would provide an estimated $625.3 million.
