Mega Millions jackpot highest ever for N.C.
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The $363 million jackpot for today’s Mega Millions drawing is the largest prize North Carolina players have ever had the chance to win. Depending on ticket sales, the estimated jackpot could be revised to a larger amount.
“Big jackpots are fun for our players, a boost to local businesses, and support education in our state,” said Alice Garland, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “We would love to have another jackpot winner but we always remind folks it takes a lot of luck to win a lottery prize, and to please play responsibly.”
If won in North Carolina, the $363 million annuity would more than double the largest lottery prize awarded in state history. The current record is held by Frank Griffin of Asheville who won a $141.4 million Powerball jackpot in February 2010. In all, five North Carolina players have beaten the odds to win a Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot. The odds of one ticket matching all six numbers to win the jackpot are approximately one in 175 million. The current Mega Millions jackpot amount is the result of 17 straight drawings without such a ticket.
The $363 million jackpot is the third largest in the history of Mega Millions, and the fourth largest jackpot in U.S. history. The $259.8 million cash value of today’s jackpot is the biggest lump sum amount ever offered in the Mega Millions game. The largest lottery prize that players in America have ever had the shot to win was a Mega Millions jackpot that reached $390 million in March 2007.