Mega Millions tickets are $5 each and can be played in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. on the night of a given drawing. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mega Millions jackpot soars to $900M ahead of Tuesday’s drawing. What's the cash payout?

As the Mega Millions jackpot soars to nearly $1 billion, excitement builds across the nation. Could this Friday's draw crown a local winner? Discover the odds, recent winners and taxes that come with the winnings.