This weekend the two biggest USA multi-state lottery games remained unbeaten, with their jackpots continuing to rise.
Now that most states offer tickets for both games, players around the country have the opportunity to play two lottery games, each offering a jackpot of greater than $100 million.
Powerball's annuity jackpot is currently the world's largest jackpot, at $175 million, and Mega Millions has the world's second-largest jackpot, at $105 million.
The lump-sum cash values of the jackpots are a little closer in value, with Powerball having $20 million edge. Powerball's cash value is $84.1 million, while Mega Millions' cash value is $63.5 million.
Players should note that all jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
In the latest Powerball drawing that took place Saturday night, there was no jackpot winner, but 9 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $200,000 prize: 1 from Colorado, 1 from Minnesota, 1 from Missouri, 1 from Nebraska, 3 from New York, 1 from South Carolina, and 1 from South Dakota.
The Powerball jackpot estimate was then raised $25 million from its previous amount of $150 million. The cash value was raised by $11.7 million, from its previous amount of $72.4 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Wednesday evening at 11:00 pm EDT.
Powerball is currently offered for sale in 41 states, plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Starting this coming Friday, a 42nd state, Ohio, will be added, with its first eligible drawing taking place on Sat., Apr. 17.
In the latest Mega Millions drawing that took place Friday night, there was no jackpot winner, but 7 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $250,000 prize: 2 from Georgia, 1 from Illinois, 1 from Iowa, 1 from Michigan, 1 from New York, and 1 from Tennessee.
The Mega Millions annuity jackpot estimate was then raised $15 million from its previous amount of $90 million. The cash value was raised by $9.5 million, from its previous amount of $54 million.
The next Mega Millions drawing will take place Tuesday evening at 11:00 pm EDT.
Mega Millions is currently offered for sale in 37 states, plus Washington, D.C. Starting this coming Sunday, a 38th state, Arizona, will be added, with its first eligible drawing taking place on Tue., Apr. 20.
For a complete set of game descriptions, results, history, and all questions regarding either Powerball or Mega Millions, lottery players are encouraged to visit USA Mega (www.usamega.com), a Web site that caters to these two United States multi-state lottery games.
New York got 3 winners but it was good to see all them hick states get a winner too for a change.
I am going to hit big here in Virginia!
Pennsylvania is due to hit big!
dpoly1 would be a great choice .........
I definitely plan on buying tickets for both drawings.
Bought my Powerball ticket today, i may pick up a Mega Millions later this week but i'm feelin good about my single Powerball ticket
Good to see the jackpots start to rise again.....Hope at least one of the jackpots goes on a record making run....ENDING WITH MY RECORD BREAKING WIN..of course....LOL
I hear you, but with all the additional states selling tickets, those days of record-breaking jackpots may be over. The MUSL folks said it doesn't necessarily mean that, but that's my feeling. I guess we'll see.
Gonna grab my tickets for both games tomorrow. Can't wait until I win.
I'm ready, got the slips filled out already.
Excellently written article Todd [Chief Bottle Washer within LotteryPost.com] -- I think that lots of worldwide wire services and news services are going to quote gobs from it!
Now I am TOTALLY stoked at the thought of winning one of these two big cash, lump sum amount, U.S.A. multi-state lottery jackpots this week! So, tomorrow, I'm going to my usual multi-state lottery game ticket sales grocery store and buy another month worth of $1 per drawing quick pick 'advance plays' tickets -- for BOTH the Powerball and MegaMillions games. I'm going to experience so many thrilling experiences sharing, investing, and spending my U.S.A. multi-state lottery jackpot win monies over the next several decades!
I wouldn't spend too much if I were you.
It's extremely unlikely that anybody in Arkansas would win.
And for some reason I can't explain, that makes me smile.
To be perfectly honest, I can't stop laughing!
Now, that's not true rdgrnr.
Someone won the Powerball jackpot in Arkansas a few months back, so it is possible!
Yeah, I took in to account that lightning already struck there so that makes it just a little more unlikely to happen.
Not that it matters that much. Hell, there's a hell of a lot of people (?
?) wandering around Arkansas that aren't even aware of their own existence.
Got Mega Millions ticket from two places: a liquor store and Extra Mile. Although I bought $5 MM from the liquor, but I don't like it because the cashier was not friendly. In contrast, I bought only $2 from Extra Mile, but I love that ticket. I love buying lottery ticket at Extra Mile because cashiers over there are very customer-service oriented.
Buy lottery tickets from the store you love. You will have higher chance to win jackpot because you're more happy and think more positively.
I get mine from places of convenience...I have no feelings one way or another toward the businesses. Plus it seems most jackpot winners get a ticket on a whim and not even think about winning...which is good.
I'm with you...I don't buy from one place all the time. I will however go out of my way NOT to buy tickets at some places...for instance a certain store in my town that the cashier has a bad habit of asking you to split the jackpot with him if you win. Then won't hand over ticket unless you promise.....I grabbed my tickets of the counter the ONE time I bought from the place then said I will never come back. I tend to buy my tickets on a whim though where ever I am......Liquor store, Gas Station, I have even bought tickets at the claims office once....That was cool as I saw someone come in to claim a Large Winning Scratcher ticket........Just depends on when the mood hits me and the opportunity arises....
Is there any lottery retailer that doesn't also sell alcohol or tobacco type of products? I can't think of one.
It would be nice to win; I'd buy me an iPad with Wi-Fi +3G and a Rolex and a
Nikon D70s Digital SLR whatever and shoot a home video of 'will it blend'
I used to like to buy my tickets from women who had that insatiable look about them. Occasionally, I'd marry that type too (not a real good idea).
Now I just like to buy from happy, friendly women who wink at me and smile and stuff.
And maybe an insatiable looking one just once in a while.
I know of some tangible assests that I would purchase.
e.g. The local Rolls Royce dealer has 2 Drophead Coupes for about 84% of MSRP. Enjoyable and a tangible asset.
I know of some short sale properties .... and some other relatively safe real estate investments .... and some other ideas that I have researched.
Before you say that I will be broke because I like expensive cars .... remember the economy of scale .... and that I wouldn't have too many ..... I am 56 and know how to budget.
I would purchase a nice home and a winter home .... nothing to extravagant .... a lot to pick from these days and many ways to research the cost of owning a home in various locatioins.
.... and .... Tommy Bahama is very comfortable !
Just waiting for the right 6 numbers ..............................
There are some in my city: laundromats, fresh-water businesses, giftshops, and fast food shops.
You're better off at the retailers that sell liquor and cigarettes.
The ladies working there are more likely to be insatiable.
Not that it makes any difference to me.
I live in a non lottery state. Therefore I have to drive about 20 minutes for my tickets. I do not choose the closest store, I choose the independent one that deserves the "bonus" from the sale of the winning powerball ticket. They are the nicest employees too, dirt poor and they could really use the cash. It would bother me to no end to know some chain store manager profited from my win and lined his pockets with it
Since Mega Millions rollovered, I will go back to Extra Mile to purchase ticket again. At least, I won $2 - the mega number, 32. This time, I aim at the jackpot this time. Here I come MM jackpot, surrend to me or receive No Mercy!
What is interesting is that in the last two drawings, MM sales have actually been below their average before cross-selling.
I noticed that too. If you look at what Mega Million gives in cash in relation to the size of the pot posted it's larger than PowerBall. Example the previous drawing was 105 million was est. pot and the cash value was 64 million so that is roughly 60 % of the purse. Now look at PowerBall they had 175 million and they were giving you 84 million that is roughly 48% of the purse. So I don't understand why MegaMillions wasn't growing faster than PowerBall when the Odds are much better.
I do play PowerBall when the Pot gets high but before they started selling cross state, I would drive to Illinois to get a Mega Million ticket because of the Odds being better. That and it's not a computerized pick. I think personally they can make the winning PowerBall ticket come up where ever they want, and when they want with a comperterized system. Just my opinion, so don't go jumping down my throat. I' m entitled to my opnion.
LL
Most lottery players only look at the advertised jackpot. The bigger jackpot will have their money. The same thing is happening to Supper Lotto in California. Its sale has been decreased dramatically after Mega Millions was added.
This Friday I'll have a chance to played PowerBall for the first time since its last matrix change. When gas was cheaper I would drive to Indiana to get PB tickets when ever its jackpot got near $200M. Now that Ohio will be cross selling PB also, I can buy PB and MM tickets at the same places locally. I may even combine my MM and PB data files as I've noticed many times the games seem to share similar patterns of numbers selections.
Why? If you really cared about the people at the "poor" store...just give them some money after you win the jackpot. I'd don't have the time or money to find a "poor" store...but if I knew of someone who needed it in my daily life and I won...I would help them out then.
Last night I got 1+1 with my quick pick...bought at a chain grocery store...I feel pretty good about that.
Now it is time to win the PB Jackpot baby!
Hello Lucky4Life, you wrote: "It would bother me to no end to know some chain store manager profited from my win and lined his pockets with it."
Hum, no need to be bothered by this incorrect notion anymore, as it is the store OWNER(s) who profits (since they had the VISION which caused them to move forward through red tape to obtain the supplies and employees to manage the machine and customer requests), not their empoloyees (unless perhaps the store owners share amount is large enough to cover their store's expenses, and any personal debts that they may have). Peace.
Many times the store is OWNED by a big corporation. Take 7-11 for example, about 77% of their stores franchised, the other 23% are owned by Seven-Eleven Japan Co., Ltd.
Turkey Hill in Pennsylvania which has about 250 stores (and doesn't franchise) is owned by Kroger.
Sheetz has more then 300 stores and doesn't franchise either.
I could go on and on...
Lucky4Life has a valid point.
Sheetz rings a bell. It reminds me of my last trip to Mexico for some reason. Oh yeah, never mind.
HOw about the winner(s) of the LAST jackpot raising their hand(s)? it gets kind of boring when the big winning ticket is sold right down the street and the story withers and dies because nobody is brave enough to show up with the ticket.
i think that's the point! by the time they show up nobody cares anymore and they can be left alone :)
because then i would have to pay a gift tax on what I give them!
Looks like Ohio is come on line at a good time for PowerBall. Its first sales will start this Friday and the jackpot will be $212M. I'll will be picking some PB numbers as soon as I picked my numbers for Friday MM drawing which has a jackpot of $122M.
Woo Hoo! $101.6 Million Cash ... I don't care how much the annuity is .... cold hard cash that can be used to purchase tangible income producing assests is great!