The New York Lottery knows there’s more than $1.6 Billion at stake with tonight’s Mega Millions drawing for a record $1.6 Billion.

“The world is watching us and the other 45 Lottery jurisdictions offering the Mega Millions product,” said New York Gaming Commission Acting Executive Director Ronald Ochrym. “This is a chance to shine a spotlight on the pride New York takes in its Lottery and all the good our Lottery does for our schools, small business owners and of course, our players.”

Our "Let’s Win This New York” message showcases the dynamic, can-do spirit that ties all New Yorkers together,” said New York Lottery Director Gweneth Dean. “We want to bring this jackpot home and also celebrate the many winners we’ve created since the start of this jackpot roll.” 

The Mega Millions game debuted in New York in 2002. Since then, the New York Lottery has awarded $72 million in Mega Millions second prizes to New York winners. Players win the $1 million second prize by matching the first five numbers drawn. To win the Mega Millions jackpot, players must match the first five numbers plus the Mega Ball.

Tonight’s jackpot of $1.6 Billion began as a default jackpot of $40 million on July 27, 2018. The jackpot has rolled without a top-prize winner a total of 24 times, leading up to tonight’s world-record breaking $1.6 Billion payout.

During this roll up period (to date):

• New York’s Mega Millions sales have totaled $184,547,771
• Lottery Aid to Education has totaled $64,591,720, and
• Commissions earned by New York businesses licensed to sell New York Lottery product have totaled $11,072,866.

New York anticipates sales, Lottery Aid to Education and commissions will escalate exponentially as the evening commute begins. Hourly sales approaching $3 million or more are expected in the final hours leading up to the drawing. Sales will continue until 10:45 tonight.

Tonight’s drawing and results will be televised live at approximately 11 p.m. on the following New York TV stations. 

Since 2002, New York has awarded 36 ceremonial prize checks to the following Mega Millions jackpot winners:

1. August 27, 2002 - $108 million – Operations 11 Group
2. November 19, 2002 - $16 million – Lucky 16 Group
3. December 24, 2002 - $68 million – Unclaimed, purchased in Brooklyn
4. February 11, 2003 - $128 million – Phin Suy of Brooklyn
5. April 25, 2003 - $46 million – Unclaimed, purchased in Brooklyn
6. July 11, 2003 - $34 million – Henrietta Henderson of Uniondale
7. May 7, 2004 - $67 million – The Penello Family of Rockaway Beach
8. July 27, 2004 - $10 million – The Zielinski Family of Staten Island
9. November 19, 2004 - $149 million – Juan Rodriguez of Richmond Hills
10. August 1, 2006 – $31 million – Unclaimed, purchased in Astoria  
11. September 19, 2006 - $12 million – Jose Santiago Morales Sanchez of the Bronx
12. April 6, 2007 - $105 million – Gilberto Bueno of Queens
13. November 2, 2007 - $75 Million – W.J. Albertson of Mahopac Falls
14. May 23, 2008 - $17 Million (50% share) – Edward & Ellen Hopper of Tompkins Cove
15. January 13, 2009 - $22 Million – Janet Alnwick of Merrick
16. March 13, 2009 - $27 Million – Isabel A. Zelaya of Wyandanch
17. May 29, 2009 - $36 Million – Silverbush Family of Syracuse
18. July 7, 2009 - $133 Million – Aubrey Boyce of Kew Gardens
19. August 28, 2009 - $336 Million (50% share) – James Groves of the Bronx
20. December 22, 2009 - $165 Million – The Morrisons of Suffolk County
21. May 25, 2010 - $64 million – The Shammas Family of Brooklyn
22. June 22, 2010 - $26 million – F. Hands, R. Edwards, and D. Tedford of Syracuse
23. September 17, 2010 - $54 million – Garina Fearon of Brooklyn
24. March 25, 2011 - $319 million – Hilton, Peck, Barth, Baldwin, Sussman, Kuty, and Mahar of Albany
25. April 15, 2011 - $71 million – The Gillen Family of Staten Island
26. December 27, 2011 - $208 million – Daniel Bruckner of San Jose, CA
27. July 3, 2012 - $85 million – Jin Ok Choi of Staten Island
28. September 18, 2012 - $14 million – Christopher Manzi of Morganville, NJ
29. November 2, 2012 - $33 million – Philip Cimino of Garden City
30. March 25, 2014 - $20 million – Cameron Finney of Mastic
31. November 4, 2014 - $326 million – Harold Diamond of Middletown*
32. February 27, 2015 - $126 million – Tammy Pratt of New York, NY
33. March 24, 2015 - $58 million - The Lucky 16 Trust of West, NY
34. September 11, 2015 - $106 million – Lopez Family and Friends, Yonkers
35. January 8, 2016 - $169 million – Nancy Viola of Staten Island
36. September 22, 2017 - $105 million – Wayne Harris of Homer, NY

*The largest to date