$355 MILLION: Mega Millions lottery jackpot increased

Mar 5, 2007, 1:32 pm (24 comments)

Mega Millions

Historic drawing to be held in Times Square, New York City

The estimated jackpot of the March 6, 2007 Mega Millions drawing was raised from $340 million to $355 million on Monday because of heavier than expected sales in all Mega Millions states.

New York City's Times Square will provide the setting for the historic Mega Millions lottery drawing on Tuesday night.

The massive $355 million estimated jackpot for Tuesday's drawing is the largest in the game's history.

Lottery officials in all 12 Mega Millions states agreed to move the drawing from it's traditional home in Atlanta because of the historic nature of the drawing.  New York Lottery icon Yolanda Vega will draw the winning numbers at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 p.m. Central Time and 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 176 million.  The odds of winning any of the Mega Millions prizes are approximately 1 in 40.

Mega Millions features nine different prize levels, ranging from $2 all the way up to the jackpot. Players can win even if they just match one number — the Mega Ball number.

Lottery Officials said in a press release that Times Square was the only place that could capture the excitement of such a monumental drawing.

Results will be available immediately after the drawing at www.usamega.com.  The number of winners and new jackpot will be announced after all participating Mega Millions states have reported their data, which normally occurs within a couple of hours after the drawing.

Tickets will remain on sale until 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

If no winning ticket is sold for Tuesday's $355 million jackpot, the jackpot will roll once again to a pre-determined amount based on anticipated sales throughout California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The $355 million Mega Millions jackpot is the third-largest ever for a lottery game. 

If the jackpot is not won on Tuesday, the Friday jackpot will be the largest lottery jackpot in history, by a wide margin.

Lottery Post Staff

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Comments

cps10's avatarcps10

I don't know why, but I get really uneasy when they move the draw...I prefer the same ol' same ol'...

dvdiva's avatardvdiva

It has never rolled once they move the drawing. Then again it has never gotten this big. I'm sure it will be around 360-365 before the actual drawing tuesday night. With the added sales I'm sure a rollover is only a 40% chance.

For those wanting smaller odds and smaller jackpots once the states see how much money is rolling in you can forget about an odds reduction at the current ticket price. 

twisted's avatartwisted

Quote: Originally posted by dvdiva on Mar 5, 2007

It has never rolled once they move the drawing. Then again it has never gotten this big. I'm sure it will be around 360-365 before the actual drawing tuesday night. With the added sales I'm sure a rollover is only a 40% chance.

For those wanting smaller odds and smaller jackpots once the states see how much money is rolling in you can forget about an odds reduction at the current ticket price. 

Not entirely true.  It has never rolled when they have moved the drawing to NYC.  But when they moved the drawing to Hollywood when California joined, it did roll.

cps10's avatarcps10

I would be willing to bet a lot of money that this sucka' ain't rollin' tomorrow night.

codmander

dont like that at all  just attacts to much trouble towards the winner/s    quieter the better   if i didnt allready have tickets  i probly would not get one till this hoopla is over with

JAG331

I hear you on that one, codmander.  If I won, I probably wouldn't turn in the ticket for a month or two...let most people forget about all the excitement.

MissNYC's avatarMissNYC

There's NO way nobody's winning Tuesday's draw. This is what people want from multi-state games. Screw better odds, it doesn't really matter when the jackpot is so big. Just think...someone is sitting out there right now hoping it's them, but for 1 or 2 people, it actually will be. Can you imagine?!?! Half of America is crossing their fingers....good luck!!!

Kylottoplayer

Dog and I drove to Cinci to play 10 draws worth.  Ohio Lottery Corp said in an e-mail they honor blind trusts to stay anonymous, plus will cut individual checks for group players.  Of course if I win on my Season MM ticket from Mass., I'll just have to deal with one check only and being in the limelight.  Good luck to everyone!!

Kidzmom's avatarKidzmom

Well I have my ticket, it won't roll again I'm sure.  Way tooooooooooo many people are purchasing tickets. lol

dvdiva's avatardvdiva

That drawing was only for $42 million and had about $20 million in sales. It was to introduce Mega to California.

For Mega the only other drawings done at Times Square were on 7/2/04 for $290 million with 132 million in sales and no rollover and on 2/20/04 for $230 million with 112 million in sales and no rollover.

Todd's avatarTodd

Getting a bunch of tickets?  Here's a tip I just posted for how to check for winners:

https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/152263

JAG331

Has the winner already bought their ticket?  Will they buy it tomorrow at 3pm EST?  Or maybe an hour before the drawing?  Is it a single mother?  A group of factory workers?  A college student? 

So many possibilities....so many lives that could be changed....and it all comes down to one minute and 102 bouncing balls.  Does anyone else find this slightly comical and weird?

Todd's avatarTodd

Quote: Originally posted by JAG331 on Mar 5, 2007

Has the winner already bought their ticket?  Will they buy it tomorrow at 3pm EST?  Or maybe an hour before the drawing?  Is it a single mother?  A group of factory workers?  A college student? 

So many possibilities....so many lives that could be changed....and it all comes down to one minute and 102 bouncing balls.  Does anyone else find this slightly comical and weird?

No moreso than when Powerball was this high.

DoubleDown

I'm in it, cause you can't win it if you ain't in it !!!!!!!!!!

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