The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $358 million ahead of the Sept. 9 drawing, with a one-time, lump-sum cash option of $164.5 million.
That jackpot total doesn’t stack up to the biggest lottery jackpots of all time, but it would likely be a substantial sum for the winner. Earlier in 2025, one lucky Ohio player took home a $112 million Mega Millions jackpot, making them one of only 21 Mega Millions jackpot winners in the Buckeye State since the Ohio Lottery joined the game in 2002, the Canton Repository reports.
Want to get in on the action? Here’s how to play, and when to watch the next drawing.
How to play Mega Millions
How it works: With your ticket, you pick six numbers. Five of them will be white balls with numbers from 1 to 70 plus the gold Mega Ball, which ranges from 1 to 24. To win the jackpot, you must match all six winning numbers in a drawing. If there are multiple jackpot winners, the prize will be shared.
You can also use the “Quick Pick” or an “Easy Pick,” which allows a computer to randomly generate numbers for you. Mega Millions tickets now include a built-in multiplier, which increases non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or 10 times, USA TODAY reports.
Mega Millions prizes range from $10 to the jackpot, with five multipliers randomly assigned at purchase and applicable on all non-jackpot prizes.
When is the next Mega Millions drawing? How to watch Sept. 9 drawing
The next Mega Millions drawing is Tuesday, September 9, at 11 p.m. ET. Drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday.
Drawings are broadcast on cable channel WGN, YouTube, and they can be accessed on the Mega Millions website.
What’s the latest time to purchase Mega Millions tickets in Ohio?
The cutoff time to buy a ticket in Ohio is 10:45 p.m. ET on the days of the drawings, according to The Ohio Lottery.
How much does a Mega Millions ticket cost?
Mega Millions tickets cost $5 per play, with a multiplier included. Tickets can be purchased at gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and some airport terminals.
Can Ohioans purchase lottery tickets online?
While Ohio is a state where you can legally purchase lottery tickets online under Ohio Revised Code Section 3770, it can only be done via licensed online sellers. Tickets can’t be bought directly from the official Ohio Lottery website.
Ohioans can no longer order Powerball tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Ohio suspended Jackpocket because it was not in compliance with the Ohio Lottery Commission’s retailer terms and conditions, the Columbus Dispatch reports.
If playing the lottery online or through an app, it’s important to choose a reliable platform that is licensed and regulated to ensure that your purchase is safe and secure.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mega Millions jackpot $358 million for Sept. 9. How do you play? Rules, payouts, drawing times
Reporting by Alex Perry, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
