No Mega Millions winner, jackpot climbs to $1.6 billion

[Julian Englis]

Source: AP

No one won the latest Mega Millions drawing, meaning the jackpot climbs to a staggering $1.6 billion.

Mega Millions officials say no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the estimated $1 billion grand prize in Friday night’s drawing. The numbers were 15, 23, 53, 65, 70 and Mega Ball 7.

The next drawing will be Tuesday.

With the jackpot currently tied with the record-setting lottery jackpot and bound to grow before the next drawing, it is bound to become the largest prize in U.S. history.


Read more: https://apnews.com/afc8ffd753e24e6f809b7a24004d0c5b

[Mike Nelson]

1. Question...

… I don't really agree with the Lottery and don't buy tickets. I bought one in the early 1980s and my mom used to buy them, occasionally. Now, I shop for someone and was asked to buy one... so, I thought I would buy one for me and one for her. I thought people asked the clerk for lottery tickets, but no... I was directed to a machine full of choices. I could not recall what the ticket was called, though now I see it's called "Mega Millions". There seem to be so many different ones, and prices. I thought they were $1.00...

What is this Lottery they're talking about on the news and how does one buy a ticket?

[underpants]

5. Depends on where you live but generally you can get them at gas stations

[Mike Nelson]

10. Thank you! n/t

*

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Some places have them available through machines

but as noted, you can often get them at gas stations and around here in the Philly area, at other small chain convenience stores like Wawa or 711, and at supermarkets.

[krispos42]

6. MegaMillions and Powerball are both multi state lotteries

Something like 45 states are in it (not Nevada, ironically).

Originally it was $1 a game and a $15M starting jackpot. A few years ago Powerball went to $2 a game and a higher starting jackpot of $40M.

MegaMillions followed suit a couple of years ago.

They both have drawings twice a week. Powerball is Wednesday and Saturday, MegaMillions is Tuesday and Friday.

If you get all the numbers, you win the jackpot, which rolls over when there is no winner. With MegaMillions the last jackpot was won in July.

Varying levels of "almost"getting all the numbers gets fixed cash prizes ranging from one million bucks to $2.

There is an optional level of play where you can, for an extra buck, get the Power Play option. They draw a multiplier ball, from 2x to 5x, and if you win a fixed prize, the prize is multiplied by the multiplier.

Tickets are commonly sold at convenience stores, delis, and supermarkets. They have digital signs out front with the current jackpot levels. Just walk in and tell the cashier you'd like a MegaMillions quick pick, no Power Play.

[Mike Nelson]

11. Thank you! n/t

*

[machoneman]

15. Nice of you to explain it all! n/m

n/m

[obamanut2012]

7. Go to the machine, put in cash like on a vending machine

In some states, you need to use exact change, because they won't give money back. There will be a big Mega Millions button will $2/$4/$10 etc. Hit $2. A ticket will come out. Hit it again, there is the second one.

If one person wants to buy, say, ten tix, then you would hit the $20, and they all print on one ticket.

[Mike Nelson]

12. Thank you! n/t

*

[Polybius]

25. I think they used to be $1 but have since risen to $2

I last bought one about two or three years ago. I get them at the liquor store.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. I might play

I play only headline jackpots. Looking at the winning sift, I would not have won last night if I played any numbers I chose. But you know, 305 million to one. And we all say the same, like lemmings .... why not me? Don't let it bankrupt you, people. A dream is self-delusion if you try hard to make bank on these jackpots.

[Sherman A1]

8. I will play and as posted earlier

On a thread a few days ago. I’m buying donuts 🍩 all around, so I’m hoping for those “ thoughts and prayers”.

[SimpleC]

3. Always a pleasent thought if you win

If I was to win, I'd probably take the one time cash payout and I'd hire a lawyer right away and want to be anonymous.

One of the big things on my bucket list, I'd like to set up homeless shelters to help those afflicted with alcohol/drug addictions.

I'd probably also help out key family members out.

Other then that, I don't have any desire for lavishness... but I think that loot be used for a lot of good.

[handmade34]

4. so...

don't tell me we don't have enough money to make social change... between what is spent on lottery tickets and political campaigns we could end poverty, clean the environment, upgrade infrastructure, etc... or any number of things that we just don't seem to care enough about

[obamanut2012]

9. I can care about all of that, donate to causes

Technically beyond my means, including Sharice Davids' campaign and I do not even live in Kansas, and STILL buy a $2 MM tix for fun whenever the jackpot hits $800 mill+. People having fun and buying a lottery ticket is not why that isn't being done. It is because the 1% doesn't allow their pet pols to tax them.

They aren't the ones buying MM and PB tix.

[samnsara]

13. good thing i limited my spending to 10$....

...if a DU'er wins it can you at least tell us first?

[Recursion]

14. When the jackpot is above $600m, it's no longer mathematically stupid to play

I mean, it's still practically a waste of money, but technically the expected value of the ticket is greater than the cost of the ticket when the jackpot goes that high. And it's worth $2 to have a couple of days planning what you'll do with all that money.

[mucifer]

17. that's just f'd up. It really is.

[empedocles]

18. THE AGE OF EXCESS

[Polly Hennessey]

19. Oh, let me be excessive.

[NickB79]

20. Oh, the charities I could donate to.....

As long as I have a few million left in the bank, a good house on a piece of land, an annual vacation fund and money set aside for my daughter's future, fuck it I'll donate the rest.

Can't take it with you when you're dead.

[TexasBushwhacker]

22. It would be fun, wouldn't it

I've seen articles about people whose lives were "ruined" by winning the lottery, but every one of them spent all the money on themselves. The winners who become philanthropists are quite happy. My needs are pretty modest. It would be so nice to help loved ones and causes I care about.

[ripcord]

21. I spent $10 on tickets

WHERE IS MY BILLION DOLLARS????

[ansible]

23. My dad has spent over $10,000 over the past 30 years playing the lottery

Most he's ever won was $10. Don't spend any more than one ticket, it doesn't really make your chances better to get more.

[forkol]

30. Actually, it does make your chances better...

But the chance to win is so, so, minuscule, that buying more really does not move the needle much. Plus, if you and another person have the same numbers, the pot is split.

[MineralMan]

24. Our single ticket matched no numbers at all.

We only buy lottery tickets when the payout is enormous, as it was. We'll probably buy one for the $1.6 Billion drawing, too. What the heck?

[aeromanKC]

26. Somebody win already!!

So I can stop wasting $10 twice a week!!

[KWR65]

27. The lotto no one can win.

[Revanchist]

28. If I win I want the cash payout........

In pennies!

[MicaelS]

29. I won.....

$8 Friday night, only paid $6. So I won a whole $2

[Zorro]

31. Wonder how many tickets Trump will buy

[Nitram]

32. The lottery is bullshit. Fewer winners and ridiculous pay-outs.

Attracts low-income people by giving them the false promise of becoming a multi-millionaire overnight.

[brooklynite]

33. Right! Much better to have them go to a bookie.

All profits from the sale of New York Lottery tickets — over $64 billion since 1967 — go toward funding New York State K–12 public education. We are proud to support our schools, and this is our one and only mission.

[Nitram]

34. We should fund schools with a progressive tax. Supporting schools on the backs of the poor is

immoral. Do you think the wealthy buy hundreds of lottery tickets? A bookie would actually give more realistic odds.

[brooklynite]

35. Are you saying we should ban lotteries because we know better?

[Nitram]

36. yes