Mega Millions jackpot grows to estimated $1.25B after no one wins

This is a story you’ve heard before: No one won the Mega Millions jackpot.

The estimated prize for the multi-state lottery was $1.1 billion for Tuesday’s drawing, which is so large because no one has won since April 18.

The Mega Millions website showed no jackpot winners and an estimated prize of $1.25 billion for the drawing scheduled for Friday. Jackpots roll over when no one wins the top prize.

Last month, someone who bought a Powerball ticket in Los Angeles won a more than $1 billion jackpot.

In the Mega Millions game, it was the fifth time in the game’s history that the jackpot went above $1 billion.

Both games made changes years ago that decreased the chance of winning a jackpot — which means it will grow larger — and more likely that someone would win smaller prizes.

All of Mega Millions’ previous jackpots over $1 billion occurred after changes to the game were announced in 2017.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350.

Phil Helsel

Phil Helsel is a reporter for NBC News.