North Carolina Sees Mega Millions Jackpot Skyrocket to $660 Million
Can you believe just how big the Mega Millions jackpot has grown to in North Carolina???
The North Carolina Education Lottery said this Friday’s Mega Millions national drawing will now be worth an estimated $660 million! That’s the third-largest jackpot in the 20-year history of the game, according to Lottery officials.
A winner in North Carolina would have a tough choice if they won Friday night: Take the $660 million as an annuity, getting paid all of that over time, or take the lump sum payment of $376.9 million in cash. Tough call, but it would be hard to turn down $376.9 million, even if that is before federal and state taxes.
“What an exciting time to be playing Mega Millions with the third largest jackpot ever up for grabs,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Our advice to those hoping to take home that jackpot is to play smart because it only takes one ticket to win. North Carolina saw a $1 million win on Tuesday. Let’s hope for more big wins, maybe even the biggest, on Friday.”
Michalko said that somebody in Gastonia won that $1 million on Tuesday. They haven’t claimed it yet, so if you happened to be over there earlier this week, it might be worth checking your tickets.
The odds of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million, but that does mean there still is a chance!
Players can buy Mega Millions tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com, or with the lottery’s app, the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.
Ticket sales from draw games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.
