(WWJ) — At $627 million, Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is already the ninth-largest prize in the game’s history.
If someone wins Friday’s drawing, it would be the third jackpot of the year. But if it goes unclaimed again, we could see a massive jump, according to Jake Harris of the Michigan Lottery.
While ticket sales are always stronger on drawing days, Harris told WWJ’s Luke Sloan. But there’s a little something extra at play this weekend that could drive it higher than normal.
“Definitely going into a holiday weekend, I think you’ve got a lot of people that are maybe making it a four-day weekend and taking notice of the jackpot that’s up there tonight,” Harris said, noting people gearing up for a road trip may be more likely to take a chance on a ticket as they get gas and other supplies.
“Certainly when people are out and about, seeing the advertisements, hearing the radio interviews as they’re driving, that’s gonna generate awareness. And as they’re stopping for gas or whatever it may be, certainly taking a chance and putting down $2 for a chance to win $627 million is a pretty fun thing to think about what you could do with all that money,” Harris said.
The Mega Millions jackpot was last won in June by a player in Illinois. The last time someone won the prize in Michigan was an Oakland County lottery club in January 2021, taking home the massive $1.05 billion prize.
Harris said as the jackpot continues to grow, more and more people become interested.
“We’re creeping into that territory where we start to see casual players start to pay attention that maybe don’t always play but now they’re certainly starting to be interested as they see that jackpot creep up,” he said.
Friday’s drawing will take place at 11 p.m.
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