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Record Mega Millions jackpot tops $540m | Record Mega Millions jackpot tops $540m |
(39 minutes later) | |
Lottery fever has swept the US hours before the draw for a $540m Mega Millions prize, which organisers bill as the biggest jackpot in history. | Lottery fever has swept the US hours before the draw for a $540m Mega Millions prize, which organisers bill as the biggest jackpot in history. |
Queues have been snaking out of shops from coast to coast with some punters snapping up tickets by the bushel. | |
The jackpot has been swelling since 24 January, with no winner matching all five numbers in the last 18 draws. | The jackpot has been swelling since 24 January, with no winner matching all five numbers in the last 18 draws. |
Forty-two states are in the big draw, which takes place in Atlanta, Georgia at 23:00 EDT (04:00 GMT). | Forty-two states are in the big draw, which takes place in Atlanta, Georgia at 23:00 EDT (04:00 GMT). |
A jackpot winner could choose between receiving the full amount of $540m in 26 annual payments (nearly $21m a year) or an instant cash option of almost $400m. | A jackpot winner could choose between receiving the full amount of $540m in 26 annual payments (nearly $21m a year) or an instant cash option of almost $400m. |
The largest jackpot to be paid out until now was a $390m Mega Millions prize that was split between two winners in 2007. | The largest jackpot to be paid out until now was a $390m Mega Millions prize that was split between two winners in 2007. |
Allsaints Macauley, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Washington DC, told the BBC he would drive his vehicle to one of the capital's busiest intersections and leave it behind to be towed away. | |
"I'd skip town with my children to a place where the temperature will not go below 86 [F] and just hang out. | |
"The guys on Wall Street invest my trust, so my kids will never have to drive a cab or wash dishes like I did." | |
Also in the queue was Mike Notarangelo, 52, unemployed, who said: "I'd set up my daughter, take care of my parents, and choose some charities to get some of the money. | |
"After that, I would travel the world. See all those places I've never been to." | |
In California, some shops have been experiencing a ticket-buying frenzy, after lottery officials in the Golden State revealed which outlets have previously sold the most winning tickets. | In California, some shops have been experiencing a ticket-buying frenzy, after lottery officials in the Golden State revealed which outlets have previously sold the most winning tickets. |
Despite Nevada's reputation as a gambling hub, the state that is home to Las Vegas is not participating in the draw. | Despite Nevada's reputation as a gambling hub, the state that is home to Las Vegas is not participating in the draw. |
The Las Vegas Sun reports that people have been driving to a shop on Nevada's border with California to buy tickets. | The Las Vegas Sun reports that people have been driving to a shop on Nevada's border with California to buy tickets. |
Ryan King, a 33-year-old construction worker, told the Los Angeles Times: "I've already spent the money in my head, 300 times." | Ryan King, a 33-year-old construction worker, told the Los Angeles Times: "I've already spent the money in my head, 300 times." |
Even the relatively wealthy have apparently not been immune to the lottery pandemic. | Even the relatively wealthy have apparently not been immune to the lottery pandemic. |
NBA basketball player Chris Singleton, who earns a reported $1.5m playing for the Washington Wizards, said on Twitter that he planned to splurge $10,000 on tickets. | NBA basketball player Chris Singleton, who earns a reported $1.5m playing for the Washington Wizards, said on Twitter that he planned to splurge $10,000 on tickets. |
But the odds are stacked overwhelmingly against any one person matching the six-ball jackpot. | But the odds are stacked overwhelmingly against any one person matching the six-ball jackpot. |
Lottery officials say the chance of winning is just one-in-176 million. Tickets cost $1. | |
Mathematics professor Mike Catalano of Dakota Wesleyan University told the Associated Press news agency: "You are about 50 times as likely to get struck by lightning as to win the lottery, based on the 90 people a year getting struck by lightning." | Mathematics professor Mike Catalano of Dakota Wesleyan University told the Associated Press news agency: "You are about 50 times as likely to get struck by lightning as to win the lottery, based on the 90 people a year getting struck by lightning." |
Based on other US averages, a person is 8,000 times more likely to be murdered, or 20,000 times more likely to die in a car accident than to win the lottery, Mr Catalano added. | Based on other US averages, a person is 8,000 times more likely to be murdered, or 20,000 times more likely to die in a car accident than to win the lottery, Mr Catalano added. |