CHICOPEE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Tonight could be your lucky night, lottery players across the state have a shot at winning nearly one billion dollars in the Mega Millions drawing. The Mega Millions jackpot for Friday is now at an estimated $980 million. That’s the eighth largest jackpot in the game’s history.

The cash option on the prize is now an estimated $452.2 million. Friday night’s $980 million jackpot is the game’s largest since December 27, 2024, when a $1.269 billion jackpot was won on a ticket sold in California.

Western Mass News spoke with local residents heading in to buy their tickets for tonight. They told western mass news why they decided to enter tonight’s drawing and what they would do with the cash if they were to hit big.

“I’m just playing because it’s a chance and every

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