Tasha King will play the 11-state Mega Millions lottery for a chance at the $205 million jackpot, but she plans to carefully choose six numbers that could change her life.
"I play the lottery pretty regularly," the Cleveland woman said Thursday as she bought a regular Ohio lottery ticket at Mike's Beverages on Lorain and West 93rd Street. "I have to think about which numbers to play [for Mega Millions]. When I decide, they will be my secret."
King is among the millions of hopefuls who will take a chance on the big drawing tonight, the third-largest payoff since Mega Millions started in May 2002.
The record jackpot was $294 million won last July by one person in Massachusetts.
No one has won the latest jackpot since March 4 when $10 million went unclaimed. Since then, the big prize grew each Tuesday and Friday night as no one picked six correct numbers - five numbers plus the bonus Mega Ball, a separate drawing.
Darrell Rose of University Heights, clutched three tickets he just purchased at the Convenient store on State Road in Old Brooklyn.
"I'm playing to get rich," he declared with a confidence that ignored the sobering 135-million-to-one odds for the jackpot payoff.
Ray Kulwinder, owner of Lucky's Beverage and Deli at Broadview and Brookpark roads in Parma, is sure the winner will come from his store. Kulwinder said he served several people on Wednesday who were buying 500 tickets each as part of a buy-in by groups that work together.
"It's a good way to increase your chances, another good way is to buy the tickets here," he said. "We are very lucky. Someone won $140,000 here on Feb. 7 and someone else won $17,000 the next day. Just this morning we sold a $500 ticket. We live up to our name."
Mardele Cohen, spokeswoman for the Ohio Lottery Commission, said Ohio can boast of being home to three Mega Millions jackpot winners.
"On Dec. 30, 2003, Rebecca Jamison of South Euclid won $162 million," she said. "On March 2, 2003, Eric Maxwell of Dayton won $21 million and on Aug. 4, a blind trust (names not revealed) won $52 million.
"We've had 205 second prize winners since May 17, 2002. More than $25 million has been won in second prize money alone."
"I have to think about which numbers to play [for Mega Millions]. When I decide, they will be my secret."
I guess she won't be posting her numbers on Lottery Post anytime soon
"We are very lucky. Someone won $140,000 here on Feb. 7 and someone else won $17,000 the next day. Just this morning we sold a $500 ticket. We live up to our name."
I agree I think the mega millions jackpot will be sold in Ohio but it wont be at Mike's Beverages in Cleveland. It will be sold in columbus at the 711 store.
Quote:Originally posted by bd2lucky on April 22, 2005
I agree I think the mega millions jackpot will be sold in Ohio but it wont be at Mike's Beverages in Cleveland. It will be sold in columbus at the 711 store.
Right city, wrong state. It will be from Columbus, GA (I Hope!)
Quote:Originally posted by jsk2001 on April 22, 2005
"I have to think about which numbers to play [for Mega Millions]. When I decide, they will be my secret."
I guess she won't be posting her numbers on Lottery Post anytime soon
Spoken like a true psychic. She's so sure her numbers will win, she doesn't want anyone else using them or the result will be a jackpot split 100+ ways.
Hey, I buy my Mega Millions tickets in Illinois. Maybe the due Illinois winner will be me! Illinois has not had a Mega Millions jackpot winner since September 27, 2002.
Well it has been almost 3 years since a jackpot has been hit here in Illinois so I would say we are past due. Maybe someone from down state. Maybe me!!!!!!!! And good luck to everybody tonight
I agree Mark, the Illinois lottery is well worth any sort of investment at this point, but it seems that each draw cant top 2 million tickets sold. Hopefully I will end this run tonite!
"I have to think about which numbers to play [for Mega Millions]. When I decide, they will be my secret."
I guess she won't be posting her numbers on Lottery Post anytime soon
"We are very lucky. Someone won $140,000 here on Feb. 7 and someone else won $17,000 the next day. Just this morning we sold a $500 ticket. We live up to our name."
Tell that to all the people that lose...
"So am I, so am I", declared MillionsWanted on the Lottery Post message board.
I agree I think the mega millions jackpot will be sold in Ohio but it wont be at Mike's Beverages in Cleveland. It will be sold in columbus at the 711 store.
Right city, wrong state. It will be from Columbus, GA (I Hope!)
I'm off to buy my 10 tickets this evening after work.
Watch for Port Chester, NY in the news clips, hehe.
It is about time someone in Illinois wins it. I cant even remember the last time, NY and Georiga have had enough winners.
Spoken like a true psychic. She's so sure her numbers will win, she doesn't want anyone else using them or the result will be a jackpot split 100+ ways.
Hey, I buy my Mega Millions tickets in Illinois. Maybe the due Illinois winner will be me! Illinois has not had a Mega Millions jackpot winner since September 27, 2002.
I am jelousssss....!! I'm not having a change to buy the big game ticket becuase i'm not living in one of those states ...
Anyway, let's hope guys and gals, if you are the fatal winner, it'll really easy ...
too bad powerball never gets this high......
good luck all on tonights drawing.
Stay tuned Mike . . .powerball change is in the air. It seems we usually have the bigger PB jackpots towards the years' end. Good luck!
I think the mega lottery numbers are going to be 01 09 12 17 21 11 as the mega ball
oh yeah good luck !!!
Well it has been almost 3 years since a jackpot has been hit here in Illinois so I would say we are past due. Maybe someone from down state. Maybe me!!!!!!!! And good luck to everybody tonight
i had to wait in line at lil peach to buy my tickets. $2500/min are sold in massachusetts, its a lot of tickets and hopefully smn in boston will win.
someone finally hit the jackpot......
the jackpot starts all over......
it was hit in michigan. could there be a rebuilding of detroit in the future?
good question.......we will never know until keepitreal makes another appearance.....
I played that Jockpot heavier than normal...
But most of my money went to the Illinois lotto....
$37 Mill at 10 mil to 1 odds....
Now that the jackpot has been won, the jackpot/odds ratio is about 41 times better than MegaMillions....
I respect the big numbers, but the payback/odds raio is much more important to me...
MarkP
I agree Mark, the Illinois lottery is well worth any sort of investment at this point, but it seems that each draw cant top 2 million tickets sold. Hopefully I will end this run tonite!
Keepitreal's profile says he lives in Sterling Heights, MI. Port Huron is only about 49 Miles away from Sterling Heights.
No one has mentioned the possibility of a Canadian winning the $205m.
has a canadian ever won mega millions?