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US lottery: Search on for $640m jackpot winners | US lottery: Search on for $640m jackpot winners |
(40 minutes later) | |
The search is on in the US for the winners of the world's biggest ever lottery jackpot - $640m (£400m). | The search is on in the US for the winners of the world's biggest ever lottery jackpot - $640m (£400m). |
Three tickets have now been announced as sharing the massive prize, with the winners in the states of Maryland, Kansas and Illinois. | Three tickets have now been announced as sharing the massive prize, with the winners in the states of Maryland, Kansas and Illinois. |
Americans spent an estimated $1.5bn to enter the draw for the jackpot, which had reached the record level because no-one had matched the winning numbers since the end of January. | Americans spent an estimated $1.5bn to enter the draw for the jackpot, which had reached the record level because no-one had matched the winning numbers since the end of January. |
Forty-two states took part in the draw. | Forty-two states took part in the draw. |
The numbers drawn on Friday night were 2, 4, 23, 38, 46, and the Mega Ball was 23. | The numbers drawn on Friday night were 2, 4, 23, 38, 46, and the Mega Ball was 23. |
Mike Lang, a spokesman for the Illinois Lottery, said his state's ticket was sold in the town of Red Bud, near St Louis. | Mike Lang, a spokesman for the Illinois Lottery, said his state's ticket was sold in the town of Red Bud, near St Louis. |
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Maryland Lottery said its winning ticket was sold in Baltimore County. | Maryland Lottery said its winning ticket was sold in Baltimore County. |
The Kansas Lottery website said its ticket was bought in the north-east of the state. | |
Each ticket is expected to fetch more than $213m before tax. | |
The winners can choose between receiving their full allotment in 26 annual payments, or a lower instant cash option. | The winners can choose between receiving their full allotment in 26 annual payments, or a lower instant cash option. |
On Friday, people stood in line at stores throughout the country. | |
The largest jackpot to be paid out until now was a $390m Mega Millions prize that was split between two winners in 2007. | |
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. | |
But the tough odds failed to deter one person - Willie Richards, who works for the US Marshals Service at a federal courthouse in Atlanta, bought five tickets. | |
"When it gets as big as it is now, you'd be nuts not to play," he said. "You have to take a chance on Lady Luck." | |
The states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Alaska, Hawaii, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada do not participate in the draw. |