Pavan Patel holds Mega Million chances he sold Monday at the Shiv Food Mart on Signal Mountain Boulevard. “We have sold 140 of these this morning,” Patel said.TOP JACKPOTSThe Mega Millions jackpot jumped Monday to $586 million after Friday’s drawing produced no winning ticket. The jackpot now is the second largest in Mega Millions history and fourth biggest overall in U.S. history. Here’s a look at the top 5 record lottery jackpots in U.S. history.• 1. $656.0 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (3 tickets from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)• 2. $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (1 ticket from Florida)• 3. $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012 (2 tickets from Arizona and Missouri)• 4. Estimated $586 million, Mega Millions, (next drawing scheduled today; jackpot could grow)• 5. $448.4 million, Powerball, Aug. 7, 2013 (3 tickets from Minnesota and New Jersey)Source: The Associated Press
Odds of winning Mega Millions jackpotBlame it on holiday cheer, New Year’s optimism, or too much eggnog. No matter how unlikely the odds, hope springs eternal at gas stations and stores across the tri-state region today as scores of people line up to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets.
Managers will double the amount of workers they have scheduled for tonight’s rush-hour shift, and they will brace themselves for long lines of people hoping that maybe — just maybe — a dollar can turn into hundreds of millions by the end of the day.
As the Mega Millions jackpot grows, more people buy tickets. The jackpot is already one of the largest in U.S. history. The next drawing is tonight.
Rebecca Johnson, manager of the Mr. Zip on Frazier Avenue, says the buying craze will reach its height in the hours before the drawing.