Multi-State Mega Millions Jackpot Grows To $177 Million

[ragingfish]

Quote »The jackpot in the multi-state Mega Millions lottery grew to $177 million Wednesday, the largest jackpot in 4 months.The last time the jackpot was $177 million was on Tuesday, February 17, 2004. That drawing, the jackpot rolled over to $239 million, when it was won by J.R. Triplett, claiming the the second-biggest undivided jackpot in U.S. history.None of the tickets sold for Tuesday's $150 million drawing matched all five lotto numbers and the Mega Ball. The next drawing will be Friday. There were 14 second-prize winners from Tuesday night's drawing: 2 from Georgia, 1 from Illinois, 1 from Massachusetts, 3 from New Jersey, 4 from New York, 2 from Texas, and 1 from Virginia. Those tickets are each worth $175,000.Ninety-one players matched four of the five lotto numbers, plus the Mega Ball number. Those tickets are each worth $5,000.The winning numbers from Tuesday's drawing were: 9, 10, 17, 41, and 52. The Mega Ball number was 19.If you didn't get tickets yet, get 'em now!

[Pablo1669]

what states does this lottery cover? it seems to have winners from all over the place.

[ragingfish]

Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

[Mr. Poopypants]

All around PA, but not in. I hate Pennsylvania. We are boring.

[Pablo1669]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.Wow, thats a lot of States... I wonder how like Texas and Washington decided to join in... they are kinda the odd ball out on this one. Most of the other states are regionally close.

[msmyer]

Quote, originally posted by ragingfish »OhioWe keep buying tickets at work, trying to win! Last week they asked me and I said "h*ll yeah, I don't want to be the only one still here working!"

[ragingfish]

Quote, originally posted by Pablo1669 »Wow, thats a lot of States... I wonder how like Texas and Washington decided to join in... they are kinda the odd ball out on this one. Most of the other states are regionally close.IIRC, New Jersey was the last state to join in...we've only been a part of it for a few years.

[drunkenmaxx]

it was once said that the lottery is taxes for people who are bad at math!

[ZubenElGenubi]

Actually, Texas was the last to join in (Dec. 2003). New Jersey was one of the original seven states participating when the lottery was called "The Big Game". After they changed to "Mega Millions", New York, Ohio, Washington and Texas joined in.Just some useless information....

[ragingfish]

Ahhhh yes, you're right! I remember the name change now...I still go in asking for Big Game quickpicks...lol...

[ragingfish]

Most definitely annuity.(A) you get more money in the end, and (B) keeps me from spending it all too fast!

[vibepa]

Seriously how fast can you spend 177mill (after taxes who knows how much). I know I would invest 90% in mutual funds, real estate and stocks. 10% would go buy me small plot of land a decent house and a nice car. I would also have the fastest vibe in the world

[Kazig]

38,500 per year payout * 210 Million is $8,085,000 a year for 20 years. That would be hard to spend.

[ragingfish]

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a challenge! Seriously though, chances of winning are next to none. So I do annuity. That way, if I win, I'll get more money in the end...

[ragingfish]

Quote »One person wins record $290 million US Mega Millions lottery04:05 PM EDT Jul 03ATLANTA (AP) - A single winning ticket was sold in Friday's record $290 million US Mega Millions lottery drawing. The ticket - 10-25-38-39-50 and the Mega Ball 12 - was bought in Massachusetts, said Georgia lottery spokesman J.B. Landroche. Other states that participate in the lottery are Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington. The winner came after the jackpot had gotten so high that many people said they couldn't afford not to try. Quick-moving lines formed at convenience stores and gas stations hours before the 11-state drawing as players tried to get a piece of the nearly unimaginable prize. ``People who never play are playing now,'' said Karen Cooley as she waited in line to buy 10 Mega Millions tickets at a store in downtown Atlanta. ``I believe I'm going to hit it. No one has won in Atlanta yet, and I think I'll be the first one.'' The $290 million US is the highest Mega Millions prize in the game's history, exceeding the previous high of $239 million in February. The biggest single-ticket winner was a Powerball jackpot of $314.9 million awarded on Christmas Day 2002 to a West Virginia man. But Mega Millions' predecessor, the Big Game, had a multiway prize of $363 million in May 2000. Despite 135 million-to-1 odds, a $1 ticket sometimes pays for itself by fuelling the hopes of lottery risk-takers who dream of that kind of instant wealth, said Ed Story, who filled out a ticket form in Atlanta. ``I saw a guy walk in, and he didn't even know how to play a ticket. He put down $50,'' he said. Each time the lottery grows larger, more people think about spending a couple of dollars on the off chance they'll get a share of the big pot, said David Gale, executive director of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries, a non-profit industry group. ``You don't have a chance if you don't buy a ticket, and someone is going to win eventually,'' Gale said. ``It's fun and exciting to talk to your friends and imagine what you would do with all this money.''

[ragingfish]

2 winning tickets were sold...one in NJ, one in GA. And no, none of mine were winners.