Looking to pick winning Mega Millions numbers? These are the most commonly drawn.

We have a new set of charts updated for the March 5 Mega Millions. Click here to view it.

The 24 white ball picked in the Mega Millions lottery on June 16 had not rolled out of the machine since Feb. 14, or about 123 days. Considering a ball had rolled out about every 45 days, the number was basically due.

That's what the following charts, updated after each drawing, help you see: which numbers are more likely because either they haven't hit for weeks or haven't rolled out as often.

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When is the next Mega Millions drawing?

Tuesday, June 27: The Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. ET. You pick five numbers between 1-70 for the white balls and select one number between 1-25 for the yellow Mega Ball. Match all five white balls in any order and pick the correct red ball, and you're a jackpot winner.

How much is the Mega Millions jackpot?

The estimated jackpot is $343 million (with a cash option of $180.1 million); the jackpot grows until it is won. The odds are as high as 1 in 302.6 million to win the jackpot, but as low as 1 in 24 to win your $2 back if just the Mega Ball is correct.

There's no significant way of improving your odds of winning the jackpot – unless you have millions of dollars to gamble. But if you like to take a bit of luck out of the numbers you select, you can find some options below.

How long has it been since each Mega Millions number won?

Every ball has rolled out in the 100-plus drawings during the past 12 months, but a handful haven't come up in months, such as Nos. 50 and 56. The Mega Ball 12 hadn't rolled out since September and then it popped out in April. Now Nos. 3 and 10 are looking good.

But just because a number has or hasn't surfaced in recent weeks doesn't make it much more likely that it will surface. Or, just because it was picked recently doesn't rule a ball out either. No. 2 popped up in three consecutive drawings in February and again in March and May. 

The most frequently drawn Mega Millions numbers

These two charts show the dozens of draws during the last couple of years and give you a sense of which numbers hit at above- or below-average rates. 

Least likely balls: Nos. 3, 7, 38 and 46 balls have been picked about two dozen times. No 46 rolled out in the June 20 drawing.

Most likely balls: No. 49 has hit just five times while no. 70 has hit eight times in the game's recent history. That said, 49 rolled out in April.

The most frequently drawn Mega Millions Ball numbers

Among the Mega Balls, Nos. 18 and 24 are the least likely. The 24 ball has rolled out three times this year. Nos. 5 and 7 are well below the expected average. Neither has hit since mid-March. 

How often and how recently have Mega Millions balls hit

After combining the two charts, the Mega Balls 3 and 10, and the white No. 56 ball appear to be even better candidates to roll out of the machines in the coming weeks. 

Beware of the back-to-back Mega Millions drawings

With 70 white balls in the hopper, it seems like you can count out the five winning balls from the previous drawing. In general, that's a good place to start narrowing down the multitude of possibilities. 

Based on the results of the last two years, though, white balls show up in back-to-back drawings more often than you might expect: about once every four drawings.

The 16 ball has rolled out in consecutive drawings twice this year, including the June 2 drawing. On June 20, the No. 45 hit for the second consecutive time. So maybe avoid the back-to-back angle for a few weeks, allowing you to exclude the five winning numbers from the June 23 drawing.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.  

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.