US lottery jackpot hits $A2.2 billion as it rolls over for 25th time
THE Mega Millions lottery in the US may see a streak of jackpot rollovers end as it heads towards a record $US1.6 billion ($2.2 billion).
As more tickets sell before the draw on Tuesday, chances grow that at least one buyer will pick all six winning numbers. That would stop the streak of 25 rollovers, most recently on Friday night.
Based on sales projections, 75 per cent of the 302 million possible combinations will be chosen for the draw, up from 59.1 per cent in Friday’s, Carole Gentry, spokeswoman for Maryland Lottery and Gaming, said.
“It’s possible that nobody wins again. But it’s hard to fathom,” Ms Gentry said.
About 280 million tickets sold in Friday’s drawing, none matching the winning mix of 7, 15, 23, 53, 65 and 70 to claim an estimated prize of $US1 billion ($1.4 billion).
The Mega Millions jackpot has been growing since July, when a group of 11 California office workers won $US543 million ($763 million).
It costs $US2 to play the game. The odds of winning the jackpot are about one in 302 million but, with so many tickets being purchased, the likelihood of rollover becomes increasingly slim.
Australian lotto players might not have such a big prize to play for but this week $60 million is up for garbs with $10 million in Tuesday’s Oz Lotto, $30 million in the Powerball draw on Thursday and then $20 in Saturday’s Superdraw.
