After several weeks of no winners,Desmond Preston the Mega Millions jackpot has increased to an estimated $1.35 billion — the second-largest jackpot in the game's history, according to Mega Millions officials.
But it's not just you who could benefit from buying a ticket. Lotteries also benefit some states.
Though specific systems differ between each state, each of the 45 states (along with the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) that offer lotteries donates a certain percentage of the revenue generated from ticket sales to specific state causes.
(Five states — Alabama, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada — don't sell lottery tickets.)
Research shows that approximately 60% of the revenue from state lotteries goes directly to winners, as the states keep the remaining cash after paying out the prize money and paying certain costs such as advertisements.
For larger lotteries, like Mega Millions or Powerball, half of the ticket revenue goes toward the lottery's prize pool. The remaining half goes toward costs including lottery administration and retailer commissions, in addition to other beneficiaries, a Mega Millions spokesperson told ABC News.
Here's a breakdown of each U.S. state lottery and the beneficiaries each one supports, according to the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries:
Arizona
Heritage Fund
Commerce Authority Arizona Competes Fund
Mass Transit
Healthy Arizona
State of Arizona General Fund
Court Appointed Special Advocate Fund (Unclaimed prizes)
Homeless Shelters
Department of Gaming
University Bond Fund
Internet Crimes Against Children Victims
Tribal College Dual Enrollment Program
Arkansas
Educational Trust Fund
California
Education
Colorado
Division of Parks and Wildlife
Conservation Trust Fund
Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund
School Fund
Connecticut
General Fund (which, as with other states, benefits the state's education, roads, health and hospitals and public safety)
Delaware
General Fund
Health & Social Services-Problem Gambler Programs
District of Columbia
General Fund
Florida
Education Enhancement Trust Fund
Georgia
Lottery for Education Account
Idaho
Public Schools (K-12)
Public Buildings
Illinois
Illinois Common School Fund (K-12)
Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund
Ticket For The Cure Fund
Quality of Life Endowment Fund
Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund
Special Olympics Fund
Indiana
Build Indiana Fund
Teachers Pension Fund
Police & Firefighters Pension Fund
Iowa
General Fund
Veterans Trust Fund
Kansas
Transfers back to the State
Kentucky
Post-Secondary & College Scholarships
Literacy Programs & Early Childhood Reading
Louisiana
Transfers to State
Problem Gambling
Maine
General Fund
Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund
Maryland
Maryland General Fund - Lottery Profit
Baltimore City Schools - Lottery Profit
Maryland Stadium Authority - Lottery Profit
Education Trust Fund - Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) and Table Game Proceeds
Local Impact Grants - VLT Proceeds
Horse Racing Industry - VLT Proceeds
Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses - VLT Proceeds
Responsible Gaming - VLT and Table Game Assessments
