Mega Millions Could Make For A Happy New Year
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- Heading into Friday night's drawing, the Mega Millions jackpot is up to $242 million -- and it's generating a ticket-buying frenzy at area lottery outlets.
It sure would be nice to ring in the New Year with an extra couple hundred million in your pocket.
Mega Millions fever is once again gripping the region.
They lined up in Midtown on Friday to try their luck.
"Non-stop. The whole day, non-stop," store clerk Iman Sharhan told CBS 2's Dave Carlin.
And business was also booming at this store in Secaucus, N.J.
"This is madness, never been around anything like it," Dan Kernary said of the crush to buy tickets.
"I'm getting 20. I heard I have better luck of being president. I think I'd make a good president," one Midtown resident said.
"Right now I'm playing 500. Then I go to Jersey and play another 400," Jaime Josue said.
Josue said if he wins he will use the money wisely.
"I have to help the poor people like me. I got some family that need to be helped. Then the rest to charity," Josue said.
Carlin saw people with dollars and dreams -- that they just might get to live larger and help others.
"Pay the mortgages for all my children's houses," Midtown resident Eddie Zub said.
"Take care of my mom because she's the best," America Bourdo added.
"I have a wedding to plan so it would be nice to have money to spend. I'd family and friends out. It would be nice to have a bigger, nice wedding than I anticipated," resident Beth Lutzker said.
Any player who matches all five numbers, along with the Mega Ball number, could win $9.3 million a year for 26 years with the annuity option.
Or a player could select the cash option and win a single payment worth about $154 million.
