Friday lotto drawing looms

OLYMPIA — The year’s final Mega Millions lotto drawing is set for Friday, with a total jackpot of $640 million at stake, according to an announcement Wednesday from Washington’s Lottery.

Tickets for the nationwide drawing are available for $2 each at Lotto ticket sellers across the state, the press release said, and will be sold until 7:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 – 15 minutes before the drawing.

To play Mega Millions, players pick five numbers between one and 70 and one Mega Ball number between one and 25. Players can also let the machine select their numbers. The more numbers a player matches, the more he or she can win, the press release said.

Washington’s Lottery has generated more than $1.45 billion to support state education programs and grants for low-income college students since it was created in 1982, the press release said, noting the state was able to provide $185.7 million in grants to over 18,000 college students in 2021 alone under the Washington Opportunities Pathway Account program as well as additional support to early childhood education programs statewide.