Mega Millions Jackpot Jumps To $540 Million
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ)-- Mega Millions mania comes over Maryland. People across the state are scrambling to buy tickets for the largest jackpot in lottery history.
Kai Jackson has the growing excitement for Friday night's drawing.
Tickets are selling around the clock as each buyer hopes they bought the lucky one.
At Milford Liquors in Baltimore County, tickets are flying out of the lottery machines.
Jackson: "Did you buy a lottery ticket?"
Devin Jones, Milford Mill resident: "Yes, I bought two."
The Mega Millions jackpot has hit a whopping $540 million. It's the biggest jackpot in the history of lottery games worldwide, and Marylanders have been buying up tickets hoping they strike it rich.
"As of 6 o'clock tonight, we'd sold $3.3 million in Mega Millions tickets just today. That's coming out to about $13,000 dollars per minute," Stephen Martino, director of Maryland Lottery, said.
The odds of winning Mega Millions aren't really that good. But with a jackpot this big, people tell WJZ they're willing to take a chance.
"Put my daughter and everybody in my family-- my younger nieces and nephews -- through college and everything. Buy houses," Megan Seymore said.
Forty-two states plus the District of Columbia play the Mega Millions game. Gamblers are now waiting for the Friday drawing to see if lady luck smiles on them.
Jackson: "What would you do if you win, Denise?"
College Student Denise Plant: "Go on vacation. Give back to the community."
If one person won, they would receive about $259 million after taxes. But that money is expected to go up when all the lottery directors meet.
The drawing is at 11 p.m. Friday in Atlanta. Tickets will be sold until 10:45 p.m.
Lottery officials say there's a small possibility no one will hit the jackpot. They say if that happened, the new jackpot would be astronomical.
