MD lottery offers dual chance to win big today with $100M Mega Millions draw and $1.7B Powerball coming Christmas Eve

Maryland lottery players face a rare double opportunity today with $100 million up for grabs in Tuesday’s Mega Millions drawing, followed by a historic $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve. This back-to-back combination represents some of the largest prize pools available in recent weeks, giving Maryland residents two chances to win life-changing amounts before the end of the year.

Understanding the $100 Million Mega Millions Draw Today

The Mega Millions drawing scheduled for tonight offers Maryland players a $100 million jackpot with a $45.5 million cash value option. This marks a solid mid-range jackpot for the game, which has seen a recent pattern of smaller pools building from lack of winners.

Mega Millions tickets cost $5 per play and are drawn every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET. Winners must match all five white balls plus one Mega Ball to claim the top prize. Players select five numbers from 1 to 70, then choose a Mega Ball from 1 to 24.

Recent Mega Millions drawings showed no jackpot winners on December 19, which allowed the prize to climb to today’s $100 million level. The Mega Millions odds improved recently from 1 in 302.6 million to 1 in 290.5 million after rule changes removed one Mega Ball option.

Drawing Details	Information
Jackpot Amount	$100 Million
Cash Option	$45.5 Million
Drawing Date	Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Drawing Time	11:00 p.m. ET
Ticket Cost	$5 per play
Winning Odds	1 in 290.5 million

The Historic $1.7 Billion Powerball Jackpot Coming Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve will bring an extraordinary opportunity with the $1.7 billion Powerball jackpot drawing on Wednesday, December 24. This massive prize ranks as the fourth-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history, making it one of the most significant draws of the year.

The Powerball jackpot surged to this historic level after no winner emerged on December 22, when a $1.6 billion jackpot went unclaimed. Winners selecting the lump-sum cash option would receive approximately $735 million before taxes. Those choosing the annuity option receive 30 annual payments over 29 years.

Powerball tickets cost $2 per play and require selecting five numbers from 1 to 69 plus a Powerball number from 1 to 26. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot stand at 1 in 292.2 million.

How to Play Both Games From Maryland

Maryland residents can purchase Mega Millions and Powerball tickets at over 4,800 lottery retailers statewide. Players must be at least 18 years old to purchase tickets legally.

For Mega Millions, fill out a playslip by selecting five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball from 1 to 24. You can play up to five combinations per playslip. For Powerball, select five white balls from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball from 1 to 26. The Maryland Lottery official app allows players to check winning numbers immediately after drawings.

Both games also offer Quick Pick options where lottery terminals randomly generate your numbers. Additionally, Power Play for Powerball and Megaplier for Mega Millions multiply non-jackpot winnings. Tickets are valid for one year from the drawing date to claim prizes.

Lottery Payment Options Explained

Winners of either jackpot must choose between two payment methods within predetermined timeframes. The annuity option provides total advertised jackpot amounts spread across 30 annual payments, with increases built in to account for inflation.

The cash option provides immediate lump-sum payment, significantly lower than advertised amounts but without additional tax considerations from future earnings. A $1.7 billion Powerball winner choosing the cash option would receive approximately $735.3 million pre-tax. Federal taxes automatically withhold 24% of lottery winnings at source, with additional state taxes potentially applying.

Winners typically face federal income tax rates up to 37% on lottery winnings depending on total earnings that year. Maryland does not tax lottery winnings, making Maryland residents among the most fortunate state lottery players regarding take-home amounts.

What Happens If You Win Either Jackpot Today or Tomorrow Night?

Maryland lottery winners must claim prizes within one year from the drawing date. Major prizes exceeding specified amounts require visits to the Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore, where winners meet with financial advisors and tax specialists.

Winners should sign lottery tickets immediately upon purchase to establish ownership. Consulting a qualified tax professional or financial advisor is strongly recommended before claiming any major prize. Many winners establish trusts through attorneys to potentially claim prizes anonymously where state law permits.

If no Maryland residents win tonight’s $100 million Mega Millions or tomorrow’s $1.7 billion Powerball, jackpots will continue building for subsequent drawings. However, these represent exceptional opportunities given their size relative to recent game history.