The
Mega Millions jackpot climbed to $550 million after lottery officials
announced there was no winning ticket sold in Friday night's drawing.
The
$550 million prize, to be drawn Tuesday, would be Mega Millions'
second-largest jackpot ever and the fourth-largest lottery jackpot in
U.S. history. According to the Mega Millions website, the $550 million
jackpot would net a cash option of $295 million.
Friday's Mega
Millions jackpot was buoyed by strong ticket sales. Lottery officials
boosted the jackpot to $425 million from $400 million Friday morning,
about 12 hours ahead of the 11 p.m. drawing.
The numbers drawn were: 19, 24, 26, 27, 70 and Mega Ball 12.
Chances
of selecting a winning six-number ticket in the lottery are just 1 in
259 million. Still, hopefuls weren't thwarted by the odds or suspicious
of a Friday the 13th drawing. Ticket sales in Virginia were running
nearly 600% above normal sales, while in Oregon, they were up almost
400%, lottery officials said.
"As a rule, things will really take off the day of the drawing,'' Oregon state lottery spokesman Chuck Baumann said.
The jackpot has been growing since Oct.1; 21 straight drawings have failed to produce a winner.
Mega
Millions' record $656 million jackpot was split between three ticket
holders in March 2012. A record Powerball jackpot, worth $590.5 million,
was won by Floridian Gloria MacKenzie in May.
Follow @gbstrauss and @robinaria on Twitter.
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