CA Lottery Mega Millions Soars to $215 Million: How to Get Your Ticket Before Tonight’s Draw

California Lottery fever is back, and the odds of cashing in have never looked more enticing for Golden State players. New $5 Mega Millions ticket draws crowds The first drawing of the higher-priced $5 Mega Millions ticket sent ripples through convenience stores statewide. Although no one hit the grand prize, 28,969 Californians collected secondary payouts, with a Murrieta shopper snagging a $23,330 windfall. Lottery officials say the revamped game offers better overall odds and funnels nearly $2 from every play directly into public-school funding—an upgrade that’s resonating with education advocates and regular players alike. SuperLotto Plus ends jackpot dry spell March’s $32 million SuperLotto Plus hit in Upland snapped a rare three-month stretch without a single California jackpot winner. The lucky ticket, sold at a Circle K on East Foothill Boulevard, reminded players that big wins don’t always require multi-state games. Retailers sharing in the celebration pocket bonus commissions, keeping local small businesses eager to post “Millionaire Made Here” banners. Why 2026 could eclipse last year’s record haul • Mega Millions has climbed to an estimated $72 million for the Friday, May 29 draw. • Powerball sits at $249 million after rolling over again Saturday night. • SuperLotto Plus resets to $7 million but enjoys a post-win sales bump statewide. With California’s pari-mutuel payout system, even second-tier prizes can balloon far above the fixed amounts seen in other states, a quirk that helped create more than 100 new millionaires in 2025 alone. When and where to play • Mega Millions: tickets sold until 7:45 p.m. PT on Tuesdays and Fridays; drawing at 8 p.m. • Powerball: sales close 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; drawing just after 8 p.m. • SuperLotto Plus: sales close 7:45 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; drawing before 8 p.m. Tickets remain available only at licensed California retailers—online and app-based resellers continue to be illegal statewide. Hot scratcher tip For instant-win fans, the “California 200X” scratcher currently offers the best posted odds (1 in 2.71) of any ticket on the market, according to independent game-odds trackers—another reason traffic is surging at high-volume outlets. Bottom line Between the richer Mega Millions format, fresh publicity from March’s SuperLotto Plus victory and nine-figure Powerball buzz, “CA Lottery” searches are spiking. Whether you chase a billion-dollar dream or settle for a $5 scratcher thrill, 2026 is shaping up as a banner year to test your luck—and help fund California schools in the process.