Mega Millions buying frenzy sends jackpot to brink of world record
Includes video report
Updated at 1:03 pm with Maryland sales stats
By Todd Northrop
Certainly the state lotteries expected the multi-state Mega Millions October rules changes to increase jackpots, but it's fair to say the first jackpot run under the new rules exceeded their wildest expectations.
When Mega Millions changed its number matrix and prize structure in October, Texas Lottery executive director Gary Grief said, "We think that players will respond favorably to the new Mega Millions changes and expect even greater sales for the game." (See Tickets for updated Mega Millions game on sale Saturday, Lottery Post, October 18, 2013.)
What an understatement!
The official jackpot estimate for tonight's Mega Millions drawing has been raised for the second time in two days, due to heavy demand for the mind-blowing jackpot.
As of Tuesday morning, the estimated annuity jackpot for the Tuesday, December 17, 2013, Mega Millions jackpot is $636 million, with a lump-sum cash value of $341.2 million.
The increase propells tonight's jackpot total to the second-highest lottery jackpot in world history, and only $20 million shy of the all-time record $656 million jackpot, set in March of 2012 by the Mega Millions game.
But what if nobody wins the jackpot tonight?
Lottery officials have estimated that the starting jackpot estimate would be $950 million, with a cash option of $509.6 million.
Translation: We will see the world's first $1 billion lottery jackpot.
According to the Maryland Lottery, Mega Millions tickets in Maryland alone are being sold today at the rate of 101 tickets per second — 6,041 per minute. The state is estimating that Maryland Lottery retailers will go through approximately 2016 rolls of paper for this particular drawing. At 4,000 tickets per roll, that's a lot of tickets.
The rush of people trying to check their numbers on the Internet tonight will likely have most Web sites swamped. Players are encouraged to check their numbers at USA Mega (www.usamega.com), which tends to survive incredible traffic volumes better than most state lottery Web sites.
"Players checking online should hang in there and refresh their Web browser every so often until they get through to the site," said Todd Northrop, founder of Lottery Post and USA Mega. "The rush of traffic happens right at 11:00 Eastern Time, so waiting a half hour or so before checking the numbers will probably be easiest."
In the meantime, lottery players dreaming about what $636 million means to them after taxes have been withheld can check USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page, which provides the information for each individual state.
VIDEO: Northrop featured on CNN's New Day program
Lottery Post founder Todd Northrop was featured on CNN's early morning New Day program in a segment discussing the Tuesday Mega Millions drawing.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot currently stands as the 2nd-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States. That position may rise before the drawing, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
- Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
- The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
- Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
- Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
- Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
- The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey
- Mega Millions: $330 million, Aug. 31, 2007 - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $319 million, Mar. 25, 2011 - New York
- Mega Millions: $315 million, Nov. 15, 2005 - California
- Powerball: $314.9 million, Dec. 26, 2002 - West Virgina
- Powerball: $314.3 million, Aug. 25, 2007 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295.7 million, Jul. 29, 1998 - Indiana
- Powerball: $295 million, Aug. 25, 2001 - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $294 million, Jul. 2, 2004 - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $276.3 million, Mar. 15, 2008 - West Virgina
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Mega Millions: 9
- Powerball: 14
- The Big Game: 2
The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002. The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.
Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Mega Millions jackpot ranks as the 4th-largest cash value in U.S. history.
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $341.2 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
- Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
- Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
- Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
- Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
- Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
- Mega Millions: $194.4. million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia
- Mega Millions: $185 million cash, Nov. 15, 2005 ($315 million annuity) - California
- The Big Game: $180 million cash, May 9, 2000 ($363 million annuity) - Illinois, Michigan
- Powerball: $177.3 million cash, Feb. 18, 2006 ($365 million annuity) - Nebraska
- Mega Millions: $168 million cash, July 2, 2004 ($294 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Mega Millions: $167.7 million cash, Feb. 22, 2008 ($275 million annuity) - Georgia
- Powerball: $166 million cash, Aug. 25, 2001 ($295 million annuity) - Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Hampshire
- Mega Millions: $165.2 million cash, May 4, 2010 ($266 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $164.4 million cash, won Oct. 19, 2005 ($340 million annuity) - Oregon
- Mega Millions: $164 million cash, Feb. 28, 2006 ($270 million annuity) - Ohio
- Powerball: $161.5 million cash, July 29, 1998 ($295.7 million annuity) - Indiana
- Mega Millions: $156.1 million cash, Sept. 16, 2005 ($258 million annuity) - New Jersey
Woo Hoo $636 million.....
Holy <snip>.
75 white balls.. Really.. This is going to be cray cray if this jackpot don't go toinght. They knew it would roll this high when they changed the balls to 75 white balls. There are only 15 red, but you still have to get 5/75 and the matching red ball to boot. Yikes!
I can't stop grinning.
I'm going to try this one more time, lol.
I bought a ticket for last Friday, "not one number".
WTG @ Todd
Good Luck.
Holy Mega Millions Batman
My thoughts exactly
HaHa. You sound like us at 1:00.
Right. Suckers out there pluncking down $50, $100, $200-plus for tickets chasing this pipe dream. I'll buy my usual three with MP to be 'in the game', but this is looking like bad reality TV right now.
if not hit tonight they will have to call it "Mega Billions" lol
May have to go out and buy my second $1.00 after all...
To say this is exciting is an under statement!!!!!!!! I have no doubt there will be one Winner!!!!!!! I dont think it will be tonight. I think I will win it on Friday. I have my 31 page plan laid out. Just need the transfer of funds to hit. Wont actually claim it until late February or early March.....lol
Here we go folks!
I want to bring this home for Pennsylvania's first big win in Mega Millions!
I find it comical that the mega millions people are saying this has exceeded their wildest expectations. I call Bull on that. They knew exactly what would happen: a billion dollar jackpot, so I don't know why they acting surprised.
Ready to win the Mega Millions ....................ready to make several phone calls .............
I can see myself winning the lottery ............Will share with families , friends , and charities ......
I spent four bucks. My usual numbers with MP and two quick picks from random lotto machines. (They don't offer MP in the machine since they are greedy in Illinois and had to add their stupid Hit Or Miss game taking up that slot.)
I hope I hit and if I do I'm collecting tomorrow and making the rounds on every single media outlet that would have me say horrible things instead of the usual nonsend how you're going to help charity and how you may keep your job. I'm not even going to hold back, Katie will be pressing the bleep button every other word. If I win then you win as you'll be amused if nothing else.
Amazing. Incredible that 70% of combinations will be drawn, most likely tonight. I hope that tonight's drawing is so obscured, we get another roll. That will be so exciting.
Todd, nice way to describe the odds lol. That's so true!
horrific advice todd to urge players to buy mega millions tickets for holiday presents as you did on cnn today. what if you bought a ticket as a present for someone and they won and gave you an extremely token amount or nothing. how would you feel. better off keeping all ticket purchases for yourself and then sharing after. makes more sense to give someone a fruitcake rather than a mega millions ticket. more likely scenario is that someone gets the paltry million (2nd place prize) on a gift ticket. how much then do they reward the giver. it can defintely ruin the relationship you have with that person. the receiver has to struggle with deciding how much and the giver will always figure he deserves more. just hang on to your tickets people, they are not a viable "gift" on any level.
Recyle centers will be buzzing with shopping carts full of empty beer cans>>> cashing in to buy MEGA Tickets!!!
I totally agree. I don't give kids basketballs because I wouldn't want them becoming really good at the sport and possibly one day cashing in as a first round lottery pick in the NBA and not remembering me when that happens.
Wow, you sound like somebody who would be really happy if their best friend won...
$636M+
If i gave them as a gift, yopu BETTER BELIEVE that I also would have the same numbers on a ticket for myself. This actually happened in Ky when the PB jackpot was about 125 million. A guy gave his co worker 2.00 to buy him 2 quickpicks and one of them won the whole thing. I don't think he ever gave her the million he promised her.
It's surely creeping up to rent money territory. Folks are gonna wake up, day after Xmas, and wonder what happened to their rent, car payment, grocery, mortgage and kids' supplies money...POOOFFFF it went, into the coffers of Mega Millions, and you were so sure it was all yours for the taking and now your a$$ is broke.
Wow!
Not surprised at how big this jackpot is (new matrix makes winning this on par with getting hit by lightning as you're picking a 4-leaf clover while petting a unicorn).
What surprises me is that this is the 2nd highest jackpot, but the cash value for it is over $100 million less than the highest.
Mar. 30, 2012 $656 million -- cash value $471M
Dec. 17, 2013 $636 million -- cash value $341.2M
50/50 split has a funny way of shutting everybody up.
These insane dollar-amount figures drive many usually clear-headed people into acting something other than their typical selves.
As far as Todd going on CNN and saying what he did, he has a business to run and this is good for business. I say this without judgement. It is what it is and right now this is about the hype and the promotion and the sales and the number of site 'hits'. For everyone involved in this, right down to the Mom & Pop corner stores selling tickets.
If we're spending even a buck on this we're all part of the circus, but if you're out there spending half your weekly paycheck chasing this thing down, you're part of the clown-act of said circus. And, you're a sucker to boot.
It's all about the hype. Simply advertising a cash jackpot of over $300 million isn't enough. They have to inflate it by nearly 100% with a fictitious annuity that virtually nobody takes, and they're desperately hoping for an excuse to call this drawing a new record when they'll be lucky if it's 3/4 of what they gave away just under 2 years ago.
$636M? I think I'm going to burst!!
I was in the store playing Cash 3 when the screen for Mega Millions switch from $586 to $636 million.
Yeah, when MM changed the odds, they also made another sneaky change which was the extension of the annuity to 30 years. It weakens the cash value considerably relative to the advertised jackpot. I think many lotteries are moving to 30 year annuities though. Even in California, the SuperLotto Plus is now paid out in 30 years.
They're probably not stretching that too much.
Before the change, they were probably cautiously optimistic. Nobody knows for sure exactly how people would react to the new MM game/matrix. In fact, lots of people were down on it and saying they weren't going to play and that it would fail. I gave it a chance. And as it turns out, sales were actually a bit up compared to before the change.
But they had a bit of luck too with this first run. And Powerball stayed relatively low and reset to $40M 3 times during the run up. That leaves more money for players to dump on the soaring MM JP. Also, to get to this point, MM had to survive over $650M in total accumulated sales, more than twice the 259M odds of the game. That bit of luck is what gets us here, 1 draw away from a $1 Billion JP.
But that luck is running out, likely tonight.
Got my numbers and I'm ready for the draw! Woo-hoo!!!!
singlewinnersinglewinnersinglewinner
I'd almost like to see it roll, just to see the numbers.
Single Winner right here
Good Luck to everyone
How many combinations are in Mega Millions?
"As of Tuesday morning, the estimated annuity jackpot for the Tuesday, December 17, 2013, Mega Millions jackpot is $636 million, with a lump-sum cash value of $341.2 million."
And after Uncle Sam dips his hand into your pockets....expect to receive less than 35% of the lump sum option !!! WOOO HOOO...GOOD OLE US of A !!!
MF'ers (lol)
I bought 2 so far..if I am lucky I will win ..No point in buying in multitudes..
The odds on the jackpot: 258,890,850 total combos/chances
Someone's gonna hit it tonight. I guess I'll cave in and play $1.
Oh my god, was that Alex Jones?
Did alex jones just say he wants to think about gift giving, while a shark is gnawing on his leg while at the same time being tasered on the butt by a leprachaun in a santa claus costume?
Someone's math is off.
After Uncle Sam takes his unfair share, you will have about 33% (more or less) of the ANNUITY amount, but you will have 60% of the CASH LUMP SUM amount. Uncle Sam maxes out at 39.6. A good tax attorney will make your share larger, but a state tax will take their unfair share, too, if you live in one of THOSE states.
Possible Mega Millions can still roll.
With the Jackpot this "Big"
I'm renting ($6) my dreams of "what if" Until the drawing........
"Hoping my long shot comes in"
One jackpot winner.......Michigan! !
I'm a Mega-Tard
I bought 13
I'm a bigger one then, I bought 40....lol
Wouldn't it be funny if they raised it to 666 million. .....lol
800 Million will be NICE!
800+ if it rolls
I think that dog is more excited then you are.
I have one ticket and while I was out, I bought two more with megaplier. I asked the clerk how the mega millions sales were going and she laughed and said that was all she was selling today and that it is crazy! I hope my little $5 investment pays.
Good Luck everyone!What a nice CHRISTmas gift this would be.
So how many MM did you buy?
I thought about that as well. Would have been an interesting marketing ploy to say the least....
Hey now, don't mess with the little doggie. Ain't she cute?
Imagine if the person who possessed the winning ticket for $666,000,000.00 was superstitous and wouldn't claim it because of the "666"
There's a suburb of Toledo that has 666 for the first three of their phone numbers. I always laugh when i drive through there cuz some of the churches have 666 for their phone numbers.
Sales are projected at 319.5, say 320 million. That gives roughly 71% chance of there being at least one winner tonight, and 57% chance of only one winner. Friday's projected sales are about 537 million (87% chance of at least one winner, 42% chance of only one) so rollover to Christmas Eve is unlikely.
My number starts with 666
I got over it a long time ago
Some people freaked out over it though and
had to pay some BIG BUCKS to have it changed
Your $5 investment will definitely pay...towards my new Ferrari 458. I'd like to thank everybody for investing all this money into my bank account, I wouldn't be able to buy the mansions and cars without your help. Thank you.
LOL......ok good luck to you too but I hope it is me.
Todd:
UR WORK'$ R GREAT ND YEAR 2013 AD
and "U">>>> R LUV'd EVERYWHERE UGO
Well ky hasn't had a good win in a very long time!! I've not been a saint but I can't think of too many who are just off hand. So I'm game tonight mega millions. Maybe mega luck will blow me kisses tonight
In Ga $232 million after taxes. It could split 5 or 10 ways still more than enough for me to retire.
Annuity or Cash payout?
I just got home from the grocery store, the lines were growing, and everyone and his brother was buying a ticket or 2.
$636 Million?!
I kept thinking about the Imagine Dragons song, Radioactive, but changing the last line to: "This is it, the apocalypse! I'm waking up, I feel it in my bones, enough to make my systems blow. Welcome to the new age, to the new age, to the new age, welcome to the new" ....lottery winner!
It may be unlikely, but almost a 4% chance of rolling well past a billion is the best odds a lottery has ever offered.
It's too bad they offer quick picks. If everybody had to choose their own numbers the chance of a rollover would probably still be well over 50%.
Correction on my posting of stats: chances for single winner only are 36% tonight and 26% for Friday (based on latest MUSL projections). Single winner is most probable for this draw, and 2 winners is most probable for next draw (albeit only a slight edge over single winner).
The chances of a rollover tonight are 29% and 12.6% for Friday. Agreed, those are the best odds to push past a billion!
Lottery Pool @ work! 120 chances to win it!
Good luck to everyone tonight!
Out of the crazy things that can happen to you in life winning the lotery is the most impossible one. That's why folks should stay in their budget. I bought 2 tickets. You tear up more tickets than you cash in. Good luck to everyone tonight.
I almost wouldn't want to win tonight. There's just too many onlookers, I'd rather have a large pool win and then get a win 3-4 draws later.
Enough to not buy a ticket for tonight? I'm guessing no...(me neither).
i'll take the win. Onlookers don't scare me.
Just give it to me if you win, ttech.
I'll give you 10% of the JP, all taxes paid, and complete anonymity.
Eh, with the current MM odds, there is a good chance we'll be back at $500M in a few months. You could wait for that person to claim theirs.
Haha. The key word was almost.
I spent an extra dollar, and definitely wouldn't mind the win, but I like the idea of winning a few draws after a big draw than the big draw itself.
Maybe I'm crazy.
I bought extra tickets to keep the woodstove burning. GL
I have bought only 2 tickets...Nothing more than that..
No, I don't think you're crazy. It's a very intimidating, if not terrifiying, amount of money.
I'm convinced other the years there's been several good-sized JPs go unclaimed because people were absolutely afraid of the prospects of dealing with large sums of $$$, how others like family and friends would look upon them, and not feeling equipped to deal with life-changes a win like that would bring.
Or they just couldn't find the ticket.
Sure, many or most are lost tickets. And others are scared to death. It's one thing to buy something that sounds potentially great, and another when you actually have to deal with the 'reality' of winning.
Note I'm not counting myself as someone who'd walk away. I just understand how that could be the thought process for some.
For me, the more I win, the more I can give away.
Late sales are likely to push the jackpot to over $650M.
Fear not, it will be split by two or three state winners, so the amount will not be so "scary" to manage.
I wish only a few things from tonights drawing...that its serves the person wisely in their lifetime, that I may be one of the jackpot winners and that thirdly, that the media leave the persons alone.
Best to the players....it only takes one line to win!
a lot of nummers for a lot of loot.
hope i hit it.
Since there has been winners who wanted none of the money themselves (most recently the Canadian couple and then Shaw McBride who probably gave away the biggest) I wouldn't doubt at least one person has completely abandon their ticket. Some may also face mental issues, such as high anxiety, that would almost shut them down with the thought of all they would be put through by claiming.
One ticket like the lady who the powerball.
Well let's hope so, otherwise it would suck that they completely changed the matrix to make it harder to win and to guarantee larger JPs only to fall short of a JP amount set when people stood a better chance of winning.
They aren't going to break any cash value records with this one, but after all of this, they had at least better break the annuity record.
The way to win, play 15 tickets with an auto pick for your five numbers and #1 for your MB
Then your First Number 1 2 3 4 5 MB #1
Second Number 2 3 4 5 6 MB #2
Third 3 4 5 6 7 MB #3
4th 5 6 7 8 9 MB #4
5th 6 7 8 9 1 MB #5
6 2 3 4 5 6 MB #6
AND SO ON THREW TO THE 15th MB ///////// MB #15
Just for fun, if it rolls to 900 mil. I'll try that.
2 self picks and 3 qps... I had a couple $ winner on a scratch off so I asked the clerk for 3 qps... He gave me 5... Wasn't going to trade in the ticket... What if by some miracle of a chance his mess up was a true blessing?!?!-- so our family has 10
“...Getting struck by lightning at the same time you’re being eaten by a shark”-Nice! It was so cool to put a voice and face to Todd Northrop.
As for the jackpot, IN-SANE! I gave a gas station attendant my gloves today, so I’m hoping that good karma really does come full circle.
Me too Megan! I gave up half of Christmas eve with my family so one of co workers and buddies could go see her sons Christmas play tonight!!! (Had to do some shift switching)... Didn't do it for karma- I did it to help her out, but by golly it'd be awesome if karma wanted to help me and my family out too!!!!
Todd Northrop was looking handsome on CNN!
I'm looking forward to solo winning this Mega Millions jackpot tonight!
Enough talk. Draw this sucker!
That'd be sweet! Let's split it and paint the earth with good karma!
Right! I'm steady watching the clock!
I didnt know you could qp the first 5 numbers. Is that really possible?
Watch out for JoeBigLotto & RedStang, they fall in love real E Z haha!
You can in Ohio first 5 or MB..
In certain states (like TN) you can pick as many or as few numbers as you want on each individual board and let the computer QP the rest.
I don't know about Illinois.
Indiana too!!!!
Tuesday Night Winning Numbers;
8-20-14-17-39 MB-7
Those look like good multiple winner #'s, no high number coming out of nowhere this time lol
I'd be surprised if nobody won tonight!
I agree. All low numbers, birthdays, ages, anniversary...etc...etc.
Did they announce sales during the drawing?
I saw the drawing live and they stated it was "$636 Million the annuity value".
hi. i just matched all 5 numbers and mega ball number... how long it takes before i get my money?
I got some bad news. Someone won the lottery. It's from San Jose
So far one person won so far.
@Kfinews
I found out on twitter.
twitter
Just wait for the official news to come out on which states has winners.
Last time it got this big, there were "winners" everywhere along with pictures
of the "winning ticket" showing up all over the internet.
Darn, lol. I was hoping for a rollover. It's funny, but for this drawing, the numbers could have come from the old matrix and no one would have known!
Congratulations, bob27, on your soon to be winfall!
It depends, you could quickly, legally form a corporation (day traders, or whatever) tomorrow, allow 1.8 months for it to "season," then claim under the corporations name (owner's names probably wouldn't be anamous though) ...
or ...
do whatever below member's ideas that would be less than 48.4% or whatever fed plus state taxes taken out of advertized/anuitized or lump sum amount. Cheers!
I can't believe you answered that stupid fool !!
Don't give him the attention he desperately came here to seek.
it was nice for me to win over 600 millions... what should i do with it?
LOL
Now It's confirmed we have one winner.
Even Abc official said now.
@Abc
Congratulation one lucky winner from california. I just won 1.00 dollar today.
Nobody finds out sh*t on Twitter.
Just another Twit with a Tweet.
I got 17 and 20 in one line...thats it...guess I won ziltch.
@abc tweeted
why u guys dont believe me...i am from illinois... u willl see one winner from there and its me...<snip> it...whats wrong with you people !!!
Jennifer Gift shop in San Jose CA sold it....Darn, I have been to that shop many times as my bro in law lives in SJC...
It's California and Georgia.
How many winners?
I can't believe twitter break the news fast . It's only take 5 minute to declare the winner.
Congrats to all the winner. We have wait another day to dream a billion dollars jackpot?
Well shoot.
Yeah, I saw. Well, I still hate Twitter.
If they combined Power cost & Mega odds, they'd hit a billion easily and quickly Actually, that game would be very close in structure (odds vs. population, as well as cost of a ticket) as Euromillions
Welcome to social media, where news can break faster than traditional sources
Did I break the news last time. No one won the jackpot 425 million?
spicy!
Well, on to the real show...Ohio Lotto Classic numbers for Wednesday...
Brought 200 tickets at the Georgia state line tickets are in my car maybe its me.
Why is California always winning?
is it Albany ,Gergia or Dawson,Georgia !! what city in Georgia!!
Yeah, and why is it that I never win?
Tallapoosa Ga or Waco Ga one time
It's also on ABC News Website. Dang, somebody is going to have one dam nice Christmas. When I looked at the low number sum range, I had a gutt feeling someone hit. The funny thing is is that only one number was a cold number that was drawn for the first time tonight. Oh well, I'll play again in 3 month.
Large population = Large amount of players = Higher probability of a winner
I might just spending my money to california everytime there is a high jackpot.I guess it is no fun to keep seeing California win. If I create a national lottery I would ban California from join.
Cali got gunplay, models on the runway. Scream Biggie Biggie gimme One More Chance!
Commiefornia won AGAIN!? Something isn't right with that. There needs to be an investigation. And don't give me the higher population excuse either. They only got 2 bucks from me on friday. That is the end of playing national games for me. I am going with state only games, as I don't want any more of my money going to corrupt california.
Me too
Do you think we will see one billion jackpot in the future? When it's going to happen?
We need to break Spain lottery record. 900 million jackpot.
What part of Georgia were the winners tickets purchased?
It will happen... 2014 might be the year of the Billion Dollar Jackpot...
You never know, it might be Powerball that does it first lol
GA winner. CA winner. Anyone else?
Good that there are 2 winners. With a jackpot that high, the more the merrier. It's not surprising with the numbers that were drawn. Lower numbers are bet more often, as people use birthdays, dates, ages, alphabetical number equivalents, and so on.
Although I didn't win tonight, I still feel like I won in my mind. :D
I'm happy!
Congratulations to the winners! Please remember to always shop at garage sales and buy that new fridge, with the water thingy, lol.
Have you been watching the lottery winners documentary on youtube
Lol!!!!!!!!!!
Yes!!
Hehe!!!!
It was so inspirational though, and so heartwarming. :D
Yep, it's on NightLine right now.
Congrats to Jennifers Gift Shop! cause Jenny is getting paid too !! lol
Dam, I got the megaball yesterday and today again but with a number. Congrats to the winners.
Just what i thought. I'll be baking with kim jong un tomorrow.
I think California has won more Mega Million jackpots than any other state. If the lucky few in that state cannot win Super Lotto, they have a chance with MM. Even with the new extra terrible odds.
MM website says next jackpot $950M why?? Look right now 1:38am EST
I saw the same thing......lol
Perhaps their system has an automated update and it glitched
The first couple draws after the matrix change, the website was showing the next jackpot within 10 minutes of the draw.
Thats crazy. Lets see what CT says. Their usually very fast.
Yes, MM has been auto-updating with a rollover amount way sooner than usamega updates since their new website. I found it odd that it always had the update almost immediately after the drawing the first few times. Then it was delayed a bit further, but sometimes ahead of usamega and I thought it was always accurate, but it's not.
336,545,306 Mega Millions tickets were sold tonight
BTW: total sales for last year's $640 million MM run totaled nearly half a billion more than this year's $636 million MM run, and it took fewer draws to do so.
Perfect example of jackpot fatigue
They also have 15mill again. Maybe their trying to get you to buy more tickets.
None of the 20 $1M winners bought the megaplier at 4x
That means somebody Won IT on Tuesday Night...We R Back to $15 mil again
My guess is they were both likely QPs. They probably looked at those numbers when they bought the tickets and thought they sucked, lol.
The jackpot has been won by two tickets. Those tickets were bought by players in California and Georgia.
Somehow that doesn't surprise me in the least. QPs don't win MEGAMILLS in Mongomery County MD.........California and Georgia win easily, especially California.....but at least the "kitty" will be shared and not obsorbed by 1 person
"336,545,306 Mega Millions tickets were sold tonight"
Assuming that's the correct total for tonight's drawing, the final tally is probably a bit shy of $350 million cash, and around 648 for the annuity value. They won't even get to claim a new fake record on this one.
CA lottery website shows JP winning ticket bought at:
JENNIFER'S GIFT SHOP
1818 TULLY RD #154B,
SAN JOSE CA 95122
Plus two 5/5 winners of $2,621,916.
Congratulations to all Winners
Congratulations to all the winners.....
See ya again next time.......
Congrats to the winners! Was hoping for a single winner - mine - but it's all good. On to the next run up!
Am curious, though, as to why the GA lottery site shows 2 GA jackpot winners and why they have the wrong amount.
The ticket was bought at newsstand in a Upscale mall near my job in Atlanta called Phipps Plaza
The excess wasn't enough to prompt an increase so the winners will split the advertised amount ($636 mill annuity, $341.2 mill cash).
After reading a few post-draw comments made by the MM director, I can tell that the lottery is disappointed for not even topping the previous matrix record.
Why is whether or not they anounced an increase relevant? If they promise an annuity value and come up short they're on the hook if somebody actually wants the annuity. Otherwise the jackpot, whether as cash or annuity, is determined by how much money is in the jackpot prize pool, and that's a simple function of how many tickets are sold. Assuming the sales figures are correct, that puts the final jackpot modestly higher than the advertised amount.
There does seem to be a few mil missing somewhere. Maybe they're keeping the excess for the reserve fund.
The lottery projected sales of ~$320 million.......this is the bare minimum to support the advertised amount....so sales of $336 million are not a significant difference. The excess will apply to the reset drawing.
They only promise the advertised amount. Check the rules. If they paid whatever was in the jackpot pool they would not be able to pay the first few jackpots if won because sales are too low. This applies to both MM and PB. For instance, Powerball advertises $22.2 million cash to start but even 50% of sales for the first draw wouldn't cover it. They will have a deficit for usually the first few drawings.
Reserve is only 2% and they do not contribute to it every drawing
Check addressed to Bozo the clown is in the mail.
My bad, per MUSL the actual jackpot will be paid after all, $648 annuity and $347.6 cash, the lotteries just aren't saying so. I honestly thought they would apply the excess to the next drawing, as that is what has been done in the past.
Maybe you should check first before making such a bold claim.
I think the reserve is figured before they put money towards the prize pool. The official rules aren't quite written in legalese, but a lot of the phrasing isn't especially clear. At any rate, the rules do seem to be pretty clear that whatever is allocated to the prize pool from sales is the minimum amount for the jackpot. If they overpromise they have to honor that promise if somebody takes the annuity, but the rules don't let them keep any extra, whether for themselves or the next jackpot winner.
As for winners of the very early jackpots when sales don't fully fund the advertised amount, they have to eat it. It's the risk they take for offering a minimum jackpot to get things started. The occasional early winners may mean the profit is a tiny bit less than the 50% they're targeting, but probability guarantees that they won't be paying very much extra.
Buying millions of lottery tickets can beat any lottery odds. We will have a 1 in 1 Billion lottery very soon.
Mega millions jackpot is $61 Millions for Friday. Are you playing?
I thought you spend $1 per drawing.
We will never have a $1 Billion lottery jackpot, unless we have a $5 per ticket lottery game.
Buying 2 lottery tickets double your chances of winning a lottery jackpot.
You did not win the lottery jackpot.Buy more tickets next time.
Mega millions jackpot is $61 Millions. Bring that jackpot to PA.
I was just reading the Tx Lottery Commissioner's meeting minutes that MUSL is targeting early 2015 to roll out a new national lottery, with tics maybe being $5. No details, but they are definitely working on it.
They see people buying $5, $10, $20 scratch offs and want to get in on that kind of action. As for me, I rarely buy any scratchers, and I'm not too sure I'm gonna be laying down $5 for one ticket no matter what the jackpot is. You know the odds will be nuts.
The lottery industry is destroying itself with greed. I will definitely spend $5 for a lottery jackpot SOMEDAY. I can't afford to spend $5 everyday for a lottery jackpot. I can spend $5 SOMEDAY.
I am waiting for Mega millions and Powerball to go over $100 Millions annuity to play.
Billion dollars jackpot in Mega Millions dreams. Mega Millions jackpot will get hit many times, once it goes over $100 Millions annuity.