Did you win the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot? Here are the numbers

The numbers are: 15 23 53 65 70 and Mega Ball 7.

This is a news update on our story from earlier tonight

The clock is ticking.

The rush is on for those who want a chance to win the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot — the second largest jackpot in U.S. history.

You have until 7:55 p.m. Mountain Time to buy a game ticket for the next drawing. Go sooner than later, as there might be a line, said David Workman, spokesman for the Idaho Lottery.

“In the last hour, we were selling 24 tickets a second for Mega Millions,” Workman said at about 4:30 p.m. Friday.

Don’t have time to get one but want a shot at another big jackpot? You have until 7:55 p.m. Saturday to get in on the $470 million Powerball drawing, the 14th largest jackpot in U.S. history.

There could be a Mega Millions winner tonight — or not. There have been 24 drawing over the past 12 weeks without a winner.

That’s not even the longest drought without a winner, Workman said. In the summer of 2016, there were 29 drawings without a winner.

Not a regular player of Mega Millions? Here are the basics:

• The game costs $2.
• You pick five numbers from 1 to 70, and one number from 1 to 25 (Mega Ball number).
• You can let the computer pick all your numbers.
  
  
• You can pay an extra $1 to multiply your winnings

So what do most Idahoans do — pick their own numbers or go with the computer, or “quick pick”?

“It’s around 80 percent quick pick and 20 percent pick-your-own [numbers],” Workman said. He also noted that two of Idaho’s largest jackpot winning tickets were both numbers selected by the players, Brad Duke and Pam Hiatt. Duke won $220 million in 2005, Hiatt won $87.5 million in 1995. Both won Powerball jackpots.

If you want some advice on how to play, click here for a story about what past winners say will increase your odds.

Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson urges people to play responsibly.

“Please, only play what you can afford, do not go overboard,” Anderson said in a press release Friday. “All you need is one ticket to win.”

If you win, sign the back of the ticket immediately and contact Idaho Lottery officials as soon as possible.

Check back here later. We will post the winning numbers here after the drawing.

Katy Moeller: 208-377-6413

This story was originally published October 19, 2018 at 5:56 PM.