Dec 13 Est. Jackpot: $425 Million
- Thread starter MadJack
- Start date
This will clime to close to a billion dollars some day. Since they added all thos extra number a couple months ago, it has yet to be won.
I wouldn't doubt it breaks that $600M mark.
I wouldn't doubt it breaks that $600M mark.
- Mar 19, 2006
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Nobody wins $425M Mega Millions jackpot; officials raise prize to $550M for Tuesday's drawing
<time itemprop="datePublished" pubdate="" datetime="2013-12-14T03:58-05:00">Published December 14, 2013</time>Associated Press
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DES MOINES, Iowa ? One of the largest jackpots in U.S. lottery history climbed even higher Saturday after no ticket matched all six numbers to win the $425 million top Mega Millions prize.
With the Friday the 13th drawing failing to produce any winner lucky enough to claim the fifth-biggest jackpot ever, officials raised the amount to $550 million for Tuesday's drawing. That now ranks as the fourth-biggest.
Paula Otto, the Virginia Lottery's executive director and Mega Millions' lead director, told The Associated Press early Saturday that she expects the amount to rise even higher before the drawing. It could approach or surpass the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever claimed, $656 million in March 2012. Had someone won Friday, it would have been that game's second-highest prize.
"We've never had a jackpot at this level in December leading into the holidays," Otto said. "If we keep rolling, we could well be at a billion dollars going into Christmas."
But each time the lottery fails to produce a jackpot, as it now has 21 straight times on this run, the pot gets even larger. That increases the number of tickets sold while decreasing the chances that nobody will win.
Otto said after $167 million in sales of mostly $1 tickets since the previous drawing on Tuesday, the odds of someone picking all the winning numbers Friday were about 50-50. They'll almost certainly be even higher next Tuesday and even higher in subsequent drawings should the jackpot still go unclaimed.
A winner from Friday night's drawing would have had a cash option of $228 million before taxes. The winning numbers were: 19-24-26-27-70, Mega Ball: 12.
Although nobody hit the biggest prize, nine people nabbed $1 million prizes for matching the first five numbers. Those tickets were sold in Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey and two apiece in Florida, Michigan and New York, Otto said.
Earlier Friday, Otto said sales were 40 percent ahead of projections, prompting officials to boost the jackpot to the jackpot from $400 million to $425 million.
Sarah Andrews, 35, of Madrid, Iowa, purchase one Mega Millions ticket Friday morning. The infrequent player took the automated Easy Pick option.
"I feel that my odds are so low anyway, it doesn't really matter," said the IT specialist. "I only buy a ticket to get a dollar's worth of entertainment."
A major game revamp to Mega Millions in October ? aimed at growing bigger jackpots in a shorter amount of time ? decreased the odds of a person winning the top prize to about 1 in 259 million. It was previously about 1 in 176 million, nearly the same odds as winning the Powerball jackpot. Still, the cost for a chance at winning millions with Mega Millions is just $1.
"In some ways we're in uncharted territory because we have this new matrix," Otto said. "... How wonderful that the changes seem to be working immediately to get us bigger jackpots."
It also gave ticket buyers a chance to daydream ? at least until the drawing dashed their hopes of striking it rich.
"It would change my life, absolutely," said Barbara Cooper, who bought two tickets Friday at a New Orleans convenience store. "We still have children in college, so that would help out immensely."
___
Associated Press writers David Pitt in Des Moines, Johnny Clark in Atlanta and Stacey Plaissance in New Orleans contributed to this report. McMurray reported from Chicago.
<time itemprop="datePublished" pubdate="" datetime="2013-12-14T03:58-05:00">Published December 14, 2013</time>Associated Press
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A woman buys Mega Millions lottery tickets at a newsstand Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Philadelphia. Mega Millions, the lesser known lottery game alongside Powerball, is stepping up to the plate with an estimated $400 million jackpot for Friday's drawing, an amount that comes less than two months after a major game revamp that is supposed to create bigger jackpots and open potential players? wallets. The jackpot is the fifth largest ever in U.S. history and the second largest in Mega Millions history, trailing behind the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot in 2012. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (The Associated Press) -
A Mega Millions lottery ticket is displayed on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in Springfield, Ill. Superstition didn't deter players hoping that Friday the 13th would bring them good luck in the recently revamped Mega Millions game, as heavy sales prompted lottery officials to boost the jackpot from $400 million to $425 million for Friday's drawing. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) (The Associated Press) -
Chad Cuneo counts out his money for his to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets at a newsstand Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in Philadelphia. Superstition didn't deter players hoping that Friday the 13th will bring them good luck in the Mega Millions game as heavy sales prompted lottery officials to boost the estimated jackpot to $425 million. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (The Associated Press) -
During an interview with the Associated Press, Chad Cuneo displays Mega Millions lottery tickets he purchased at a newsstand Friday, Dec. 13, 2013, in Philadelphia. Superstition didn't deter players hoping that Friday the 13th will bring them good luck in the Mega Millions game as heavy sales prompted lottery officials to boost the estimated jackpot to $425 million. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (The Associated Press) -
Mega Millions lottery tickets print at the Bi Rite market in Olmsted Township, Ohio on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013. Superstition didn't deter players hoping that Friday the 13th will bring them good luck in the Mega Millions game as heavy sales prompted lottery officials to boost the estimated jackpot to $425 million. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan) (The Associated Press)
Next Slide Previous Slide
DES MOINES, Iowa ? One of the largest jackpots in U.S. lottery history climbed even higher Saturday after no ticket matched all six numbers to win the $425 million top Mega Millions prize.
With the Friday the 13th drawing failing to produce any winner lucky enough to claim the fifth-biggest jackpot ever, officials raised the amount to $550 million for Tuesday's drawing. That now ranks as the fourth-biggest.
Paula Otto, the Virginia Lottery's executive director and Mega Millions' lead director, told The Associated Press early Saturday that she expects the amount to rise even higher before the drawing. It could approach or surpass the largest Mega Millions jackpot ever claimed, $656 million in March 2012. Had someone won Friday, it would have been that game's second-highest prize.
"We've never had a jackpot at this level in December leading into the holidays," Otto said. "If we keep rolling, we could well be at a billion dollars going into Christmas."
But each time the lottery fails to produce a jackpot, as it now has 21 straight times on this run, the pot gets even larger. That increases the number of tickets sold while decreasing the chances that nobody will win.
Otto said after $167 million in sales of mostly $1 tickets since the previous drawing on Tuesday, the odds of someone picking all the winning numbers Friday were about 50-50. They'll almost certainly be even higher next Tuesday and even higher in subsequent drawings should the jackpot still go unclaimed.
A winner from Friday night's drawing would have had a cash option of $228 million before taxes. The winning numbers were: 19-24-26-27-70, Mega Ball: 12.
Although nobody hit the biggest prize, nine people nabbed $1 million prizes for matching the first five numbers. Those tickets were sold in Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey and two apiece in Florida, Michigan and New York, Otto said.
Earlier Friday, Otto said sales were 40 percent ahead of projections, prompting officials to boost the jackpot to the jackpot from $400 million to $425 million.
Sarah Andrews, 35, of Madrid, Iowa, purchase one Mega Millions ticket Friday morning. The infrequent player took the automated Easy Pick option.
"I feel that my odds are so low anyway, it doesn't really matter," said the IT specialist. "I only buy a ticket to get a dollar's worth of entertainment."
A major game revamp to Mega Millions in October ? aimed at growing bigger jackpots in a shorter amount of time ? decreased the odds of a person winning the top prize to about 1 in 259 million. It was previously about 1 in 176 million, nearly the same odds as winning the Powerball jackpot. Still, the cost for a chance at winning millions with Mega Millions is just $1.
"In some ways we're in uncharted territory because we have this new matrix," Otto said. "... How wonderful that the changes seem to be working immediately to get us bigger jackpots."
It also gave ticket buyers a chance to daydream ? at least until the drawing dashed their hopes of striking it rich.
"It would change my life, absolutely," said Barbara Cooper, who bought two tickets Friday at a New Orleans convenience store. "We still have children in college, so that would help out immensely."
___
Associated Press writers David Pitt in Des Moines, Johnny Clark in Atlanta and Stacey Plaissance in New Orleans contributed to this report. McMurray reported from Chicago.
I'm thinking MadJacks/Sports Weekly NFL Lotto.....$2 a tix, pick each game on the Money-line & Jacks Power Ball Highest Scoring Game of the Week...
80% paid to the winner.....19% to Sports, 1% to MJ's....:0corn
With the $500M jackpot, there isn't $500M in the pot. There is half of that. The $500M is if you take an annuity. The $250M is put in the market over the next 25-30 years to make you your $500M.
saw on news
saw on news
since they raised from 56 numbers to 75, your chance of winning is 1 in 279,000,000.
Better chance flapping your arms from your Kansas rooftop as you catch a stiff Northerly wind and land in a humongous cow-pie in an Amarillo feedlot.
saw on news
since they raised from 56 numbers to 75, your chance of winning is 1 in 279,000,000.
Better chance flapping your arms from your Kansas rooftop as you catch a stiff Northerly wind and land in a humongous cow-pie in an Amarillo feedlot.
- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,786
- 634
- 113
- 75
