Californians Brace For Jackpot Fever As Lotteries Combine For $740M In Prizes
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Lottery fever? This might be a pandemic!
The current Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are a combined -- whoa! life altering!!, bill-busting!!! -- $740 million.
No one matched all six numbers in Tuesday's Mega Millions. The jackpot for that game's next draw, Friday, stands at $190 million.
Meanwhile, no one matched all six numbers in Wednesday night's Powerball draw (the numbers picked were 2, 11, 26, 34, 41 with the Powerball number of 32.)
The jackpot -- which was $360 million -- now stands at $550 million -- a near record for Powerball. The jackpot was expected to go to $475 million but ticket sales around the country have been brisk. Lottery officials say the $550 number could also climb higher depending on sales Friday.
The Mega Millions game is played in 42 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $12 million and climbs every time there is no winner. The record jackpot went to $656 million in March 2012.
Powerball is played in 43 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball starts at $40 million. The record jackpot reached $588 million in November 2012.
