All of the big jackpots create a spillover effect but they only show up after a couple of draws. Allow me to explain.
Normally the jackpot starts at $10 million. This is always a subsidized amount. Ticket sales only support a jackpot of around $3 to $4 million. After a big jackpot, sales support a jackpot of around $6 to $7 million but the jackpot is still offered at a subsidized value of $10 million.
Where the spillover effect comes in play is where the jackpot is no longer subsidized. This has occured a number of times with the Powerball jackpot. Normally the Powerball jackpot rolls from $10 million to $12 million. The following are dates when it was set to a larger amount because of larger sales following a larger than normal jackpot that was won.
Sept 6, 2003 $13.7 after a $135 jackpot
July 16, 2003 $13.5 after a $261.5 jackpot
Feb 8, 2003 $13.4 after a $101.8 jackpot
Jan 1, 2003 $14.5 after a $314.9 record jackpot (this was also the rollover record)
So far Mega Millions has only produced a $12 million jackpot for the first rollover. As predicted in an earlier post, I predict the jackpot for the Jan 6, 2004 draw will be a record $13 or $14 jackpot if tonights jackpot is not won.
Good luck,
Jake