Way back when Powerball was LottoAmerica or something similar and Mega Millions used to be The Big Game.
The Lotto America implies that the plans for a national lottery were there even then.
Wikipedia:
Powerball replaced Lotto*America in April 1992; Mega Millions replacedThe Big Game in May 2002 (see below for the evolution of the nameMega Millions.)
Lotto*America
Powerball's predecessor began in 1988;[2] it was known as Lotto*America. The game, and name, were changed to Powerball on April 19, 1992. Powerball's first drawing was held on April 22.
Maine joined MUSL in 1990, dropping out when Powerball began; it did not rejoin MUSL until summer 2004.
The Big Game
The Big Game logo prior to the Mega Millions name change.
Tickets began to be sold in in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Virginia on August 31, 1996, for the new game, then known asThe Big Game. Drawings were initially held Fridays only.
The Georgia Lottery was a member of MUSL at the time and wanted to sell both games for the remainder of 1996; however, within a few days, Georgia was forcibly removed from MUSL, returning with the 2010 cross-selling expansion.
Beginning in January 1999, jackpot winners were given the option to receive their prize in cash.
In May 1999, New Jersey joinedThe Big Game, the only jurisdiction to do so beforeThe Big Game became Mega Millions in 2002.
The Big Game Mega Millions
New York and Ohio joined The Big Gameon May 15, 2002, when the game was changed to its second name, The Big Game Mega Millions, temporarily retaining the old name and its "gold ball" logo. The "Big Money Ball" became the "Mega Ball." After the game's name was altered, the yellow ball in the new Mega Millions logo read "The Big Game." The first (The Big Game) Mega Millionsdrawing was held on May 17, 2002. The first three additional lotteries offering Mega Millions were Washington (September 2002), Texas (2003), and California (2005). California was the last addition to Mega Millions before the cross-sell expansion of 2010. Montana joined Mega Millions on March 1, 2010, the first addition to Mega Millions after the cross-sell expansion.
When Texas added Mega Millions in 2003, it began offering an option then available only to Texas Lottery players, theMegaplier, which is similar to Powerball'sPower Play. The 11 Mega Millions lotteries withoutMegaplieron the January 31, 2010 cross-selling date gradually added the multiplier; by January 2011, all Mega Millions lotteries offered theMegaplier.
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As far as merging and starting jackpots of $100,000,000 and increaes of $100,000,000 per draw, it's very doubtful that will happen. One of the things leanred here at LP is that the advertised jackpot amount does not exist. Tonight's MM is $241M, there is no $241M or a winner opting for lump sum would get that sum (less taxes) and not something less, which is $170.9 million for tonight's drawing. The advertised jackpots are based on winners taking the annuity).