Mega Millions Keeps Rolling
It has been three months and 24 draws since the Mega Millions jackpot was last won, and it has now reached a record level of $900 million. The record had already been broken heading into the most recent draw on Tuesday 16th October, after officials revised the estimated jackpot up to $667 million, $11 million more than the $656 million jackpot won by three tickets in March 2012.
After there were no jackpot winners yet again on Tuesday, it climbed to $868 million, before another revision increased it even further to $900 million. It might not stop there before Friday’s draw, either. The jackpot is partially determined by the number of tickets sold, so if there is more demand than expected before the draw, the final value could approach the magical $1 billion mark. It would be only the second time in history that a lottery prize has reached that amount, after the $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot of January 2016.
The lead director of Mega Millions, Gordon Medenica, said this week: “It’s always a thrill to have both jackpots rolling, but there’s an extra spark now with Mega Millions reaching a new record. Everyone is talking about the jackpot and running out to buy tickets.”
Mississippians Determined Not to Miss Out
The news in August that legislation had been passed to allow the formation of a state lottery in Mississippi was warmly received by lottery players who currently have to travel outside of the state to buy their tickets. The passing of that bill, however, was only the first step in a long process, and some commentators speculate that it could be up to two years before a state lottery is operational.
That may come as unwelcome news to lottery players in the Magnolia State, but events this week have shown that it won’t deter them from traveling a little further afield to participate in historic draws such as the one scheduled to take place on Friday.
Some residents of Mississippi travelled to the Sportsman One Stop in Tennessee, located less than half a mile over the border. One said he was “excited” about the impending state lottery in Mississippi, adding: “I wouldn't have to make the drive all the way up here and get my ticket.” As well as providing players in Mississippi the opportunity to play games like Mega Millions without having to make such long drives, the new lottery would recoup much-needed funds for the state’s roads and bridges.
If you live in Mississippi and don’t want to miss out on the chance to win one of the biggest prizes in lottery history, you can buy your tickets from any state that participates in the game. Just remember that if you win a prize, you will need to return to that state to claim it, so you might not want to travel too far.