By Todd Northrop
Mega Millions lottery players across the United States are pulling out the stops and lottery tickets are being snapped up at a furious pace nation-wide for the Friday evening drawing, which has been raised mid-week to $312 million.
By the time ticket sales close Friday night, the jackpot may be even higher.
The estimated jackpot for the March 25, 2011 Mega Millions drawing was raised Thursday from $304 million to $312 million because of heavier than expected sales in all Mega Millions states.
Likewise, the lump-sum cash value of the massive grand prize was raised to $198 million, and increase of $4.4 million from the initial estimate made early Wednesday morning.
"Sales for Mega Millions have risen tremendously in the last couple of weeks, which is a huge boost for education," said Rebecca Hargrove, President and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery.
In Indiana, lottery officials will be giving away free Mega Millions tickets Friday to the first 304 people at each of three convenience stores.
The first giveaway will be held at 6 a.m. at the Circle K store at Interstate 69 and 96th Street in Fishers. Then at noon, tickets will be given away at Silver Express, at 10th Street and Country Club Road in Indianapolis. Finally at 4:30 p.m., another giveaway will be held at a Village Pantry at 86th Street and Ditch Road in Indianapolis.
Lottery players seeking to check the winning numbers Friday night are urged to use USA Mega (www.usamega.com). State lottery Web sites are normally brought to a standstill during busy periods, while USA Mega normally remains responsive.
Mega Millions drawing results will be posted immediately after the 11:00 pm drawing at USA Mega. 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 typically until 10:45 pm Eastern Time on Friday, although players should check with a lottery retailer in their state for the exact sales cutoff time. Players are advised not to wait until the last minute.
If the jackpot is not won on Friday, the Tuesday jackpot may become one of the largest lottery jackpots in history — if not the largest.
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.
Most states also offer the Megaplier option for an extra dollar per ticket purchased. The Megaplier multiplies any non-jackpot prizes won by 2, 3, or 4 times, depending on the Megaplier number drawn that evening.
Players who purchase the Megaplier and win second prize will automatically have their prize increased by 4x to $1 million.
surely,their is no more better time to play the mega millions than this week.I will advice you to play many combinations so that you increase your chances of winning.
Beleive I had a dream last night,and that I was shown that the Mega Ball shall be No.7
I knew it would. I expect it to end up around $325,000,000
me too.......but i hope it rolls at least 2 more times so we can set a new record
It only needs to roll one more time for a record. If nobody wins tomorrow night, it will go to over $400,000,000. Fortunately, that's not going to happen because I got the $312,000,000 winner in my wallet.
MINE ALL MINE!!!!
personally i would like to see it roll one more time to go for the record and then let me win. if i win i might go down to the safeway store and buy me some white castle burgers out of the freezer. YUM. I am buying another multi draw ticket tonight for the next drawing. i am buying another one for powerball too. i can live 125 million. uhmmm white castle.
Not 312m,just 136m.Euro Millions is more bigger,188m.
Lol! Ironically, I just left Safeway here in my state, and the lines were longer than I ever can remember. If it is not won by me tomorrow, or anyone else. Yeah, it will top $400,000,000. I'd love to see the frenzy increase at least til Tuesday, so we all can witness a record-breaker. I just hope whomever wins, exercises some common sense and wisdom, and live happily ever after.
Got my 4 dollar ticket.If I do win u can expect to hear that my trust has cashed the ticket for atleast two months giving time to.let all the hoopla die down about who has the winning ticket and those pesky reporters away.
My laptop crashed...so hopefully that is a sign that my world is going to dramatically change this week. Although I would be quite happy with the MegaMillions jackpot in my investment and bank accounts, I would be just as satisfied with either Powerball or Illinois Lotto...a few mil is enough but $200 million is just RIGHT!!!
Good luck to the players...and when I win.....OH HAPPY DAYS!!!
Gotta get me a 2 dollar ticket tonight or early in the morning; but I will have a ticket before this drawing...wish me luck everyone!
Sorry to tell you all this but the winning ticket is coming back home to Michigan and it will be in my hands! I bought a few from different stores in the area. I also went to the little grocery store that sold the Stebbins their winning ticket a few years back.
It is only fair that I inform you that I fully intend to keep all the hoopla going for a long, long time.
I love hoopla.