The ticket money from Mega Millions and Powerball is allocated in several ways:

Prize Payouts: 50% of the ticket sales goes towards prize payouts, including the jackpot and various other prize levels.

The balance of the 50% goes to:

State Beneficiaries: Each participating state allocates a portion of the ticket sales to various public initiatives and programs. This often includes funding for education, senior citizens, health services, environmental protection, and problem gambling treatment programs.

Retailer Commissions: Retailers selling lottery tickets receive a commission for each ticket sold and may also receive bonuses for selling winning tickets.

Lottery Operating Costs: A portion of the revenue is used to cover the operating costs of the lottery, including marketing, administration, and staff salaries.

The exact distribution of funds can vary by state, as each state lottery has its own rules and priorities for where they put the funds.