Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot is $1.22 billion, but Maryland winners could take home much less due to the state’s high lottery tax rate.

A Charles County woman has turned a simple piece of advice into a life-changing $48,108 Keno win. The Southern Maryland caregiver followed her instincts and the guidance of two important people in her life to pick the right numbers at the right location,

Realizing he had an extra $5 in his pocket, the Taneytown man decided to splurge on some lottery tickets, Maryland Lottery officials said in a Dec. 23 news release. He bought two $1 scratch-offs and one $3 ticket, then he headed to his truck to scratch his tickets, lottery officials said.

After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night, according to the Mega Millions website.