Interest peaking in Friday's mega-draw
By Todd Northrop
What started yesterday as a $237 million jackpot estimate has become a $242 million estimate a day later.
Lottery officials have raised the official annuity jackpot estimate for tomorrow night's Mega Millions drawing to $242 million.
The cash option likewise has been raised another $3.2 million to a whopping $154 million.
Lottery players interested in learning how taxes will affect the annuity and cash payouts can visit USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
When an official jackpot estimate is raised prior to the drawing, it is a sure sign of astronomical sales. The interest in the Mega Millions drawing Friday is being sparked by a combination of the New Year's Eve drawing date, plus the fact that a jackpot this large hasn't been seen since May.
If nobody hits the jackpot Friday, the new Mega Millions jackpot will surely be the largest since August 28, 2009, when two winning tickets from California and New York took down a $336 million mega-jackpot.
The cash value of that drawing was $210 million.
The Mega Millions drawing will be held Friday at 11:00 pm Eastern Time. The winning numbers will be published right after the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com).
i will be clicking my red shoes together and dreaming of Kansas......theres no place like home!!!!!!!!!!
i have my ticket ready to claim my jackpot prize monday morning anonymously of course
DREAMS DO COME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!
I found the lottery analysis from USA Mega very helpful. It looks like New Jersey takes a hefty tax out of your winnings. I was also surprised that California has no state tax on lottery winnings. Perhaps another reason why California is always in a financial crisis. Go figure.
Very funny post KSplayer. What about theWiced Witch of the West (aka Joan Ginther) she may come along and take your winnings.
PS. I have no ill will against 4 time lottery winner Joan. I'm just trying to be funny.
Alright !
I can get a $100 Million EFT from the PA Lottery early next year !
One Ticket - One Winner !
I'm dreaming of a Green New Years !
I hope not i might just have to drop a house on her luisM
same here no ill will just being funny
I think it's great that you get to claim anonymously in Kansas. Here in Florida no way. There was a lottery winner who was murdered over his winnings. I say change the law so you remain anonymous for safety
No state tax on winnings in Washington either, a different story if I cross the bridge into Oregon. I'll buy three tickets for tomorrow's drawing. I wouldn't care if I had to split the money with ten people. Some money is better than no money and lord knows I need it.
I agree if and you have kids it is even more important you never know what kind of crazy people are out there and what they will do for money
Also another bad thing about Florida is that Blind Trusts are not allowed. You can claim with a trust but the trustee's name is published. same deal with LLC's ;-(
When I went to play my midday numbers the store was already lined up with meag-millions players.
My husband got 5 easy picks, I'll pick my own.
Letit grow, letit grow, letit grow!
With the amount of interest being shown for Friday's MM drawing, LP could set new record Friday night for the number of people on line.
I was having a feeling it would be raised again. I've seen so many people buying them compared to almost none, I've even seen a few people in the 20-30 age range getting some.
Looks like I gotta get out and pick up a few more before tomorrow night.
I had a dream I played those numbers 02, 17, 20, 48, 51 and megaball 13...Anyone who want can try their luck using those numbers. I don't want to win by myself. Good luck to all