Last night's Powerball numbers, Mega Millions results, how to play the lottery and more

Chris Sims
IndyStar
A Powerball ticket is sold to a customer.

The combination of the the Powerball and the Mega Millions is back to $800 million for the first time since the two multi-state lottery grand prizes totaled more than $1 billion in early January.

Friday's Mega Millions drawing is currently $345 million, while the Powerball will be worth $455 million on Saturday after Wednesday's drawing failed to produce a winner.

Wednesday's winning Powerball numbers were 6, 12, 24, 41, 68, and the Powerball was 9. The Power Play number was 3.

Tuesday's winning Mega Millions numbers were 6, 30, 58, 60, 61 and the Megaball was 17. The Megaplier number was 5.

Indiana legislature ends in chaos:Finger-pointing and the unintentional death of several bills

Glitter beer:Arrives in Indy for a less green, more sparkly St. Patrick's Day

Here's what you need to know if you play the Powerball or Mega Millions:

What is a winning ticket worth?

The Powerball jackpot is currently worth $455 million for Saturday's drawing, payable in 30 annual installments, with a one-time cash option of $269.4 million before taxes.

The Mega Millions jackpot now stands at $345 million for Tuesday night's drawing with a cash option of $205 million before taxes.

When are the drawings?

Mega Millions and Powerball drawings are televised locally on Fox59. Powerball numbers are drawn at 10:59 p.m. EST every Wednesday and Saturday. Mega Millions numbers are drawn at 11 p.m. EST every Tuesday and Friday.

Find out where to watch the drawings on your local TV station by heading to your state lottery's webpage. (Sorry, Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah; you can't play unless you cross state lines.)

If you'd rather look online, Powerball's drawing is streamed here; some websites offer live streaming video of Mega Millions drawings, and Mega Millions' official YouTube channel posts its video soon after the live event. 

Odds of winning

The odds of buying a winning Powerball ticket are 1 in 25. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. The odds of becoming a millionaire by matching five numbers is 1 in 11,688,054.

As for the Mega Millions, your odds of winning overall are a little better at 1 in 24. Your odds of winning the jackpot, however, are 1 in 302,575,350. A shot at matching five numbers for a $1 million is 1 in 12,607,306.

You have a better chance of achieving sainthood than winning either grand prize, 1 in 20 million, according to Gregory Baer, author of "Life: The Odds."

How much does it cost to play?

Powerball and Mega Millions tickets sell for $2 each.

Powerball players can add Power Play for an extra $1 per ticket for a chance to multiply a non-jackpot prize up to five times.

Mega Millions players can purchase the Megaplier for an extra $1 per ticket for a chance to multiply a non-jackpot prize up to five times.

How to play Powerball

How to play Mega Millions

If you win ...

Dennis Rosebrough, public relations director for the Hoosier Lottery, recommends people secure their ticket. Winners should call the number on the back of their ticket, or Indiana winners can call (800) 955-6886 when they're ready to claim their prize.

"First, you should pause and take a deep breath," Rosebrough said. "Then, our experience with past winners says you should consult with some experts — whether they be accounting, legal or whatever — if you have a major prize."

Rosebrough has been impressed with most Indiana winners. Most have had a plan in place before they attempt to receive the money.

How long before you get paid?

Both Powerball and Mega Millions officials transfer the money from a central depository of all districts selling tickets — that includes 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for Powerball; Mega Millions sells in all of those places except Puerto Rico — to respective state lotteries within 24 to 48 hours, Rosenbrough said.

However, the transfer sometimes can take longer because of things such as long holiday weekends.

Notable Indiana winners

Bert Morlan, the former mayor of Brazil, Ind., won the first Powerball jackpot sold by the Hoosier Lottery at the age of 85 in 1992. Morlan's winnings were worth $6 million, according to IndyStar records.

Indiana has had more Powerball jackpot winners than any other state at 39, according to Rosebrough. The Powerball jackpot won Feb. 22 of last year sold in Lafayette was the 14th largest jackpot won in the United States at $435 million. A Purdue grad and 10-year Lafayette resident chose to remain anonymous when he claimed that prize.

In 2011, five siblings of the Bolke family from Illinois, Indiana and Nevada matched all six Mega Millions numbers with a ticket bought in Muenster. The matriarch of the family would buy tickets every week with monetary contributions from the siblings. She spent the lone dollar she had on a gas station clerk's suggestion and walked away with $46.5 million for the family. The original jackpot of $93 million was split with a second ticket sold in Belleville, Mich.

One other Mega Millions ticket has won in Indiana. It brought home $536 million in 2016 and is the ninth largest lottery win in the United States. A Hamilton County family claimed the prize under Warren, LLC, after purchasing the ticket in Cambridge City, Ind.

Chris Sims is a digital producer at IndyStar. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims