DES MOINES, Iowa – The Mega Millions jackpot reached an estimated US$454 million ahead of its Tuesday evening drawing, making it potentially the 7th largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.
With slightly better odds than the Powerball game, it’s rare that nearly four months passes without someone winning a Mega Millions jackpot. It is the longest the game’s jackpot has rolled on without a top prize winner.
“This is our longest roll ever, by far,” said Paula Otto, executive director of the Virginia Lottery and lead director for Mega Millions, which is managed by a consortium of lottery organizations.
Tuesday could mark the 34th time the jackpot has rolled without a winner. The previous record was 22 rolls in December 2013.
Otto said there are several factors for the lack of a winner, and it includes fewer players. The highest jackpot drawn in the country was a US$1.6 billion Powerball jackpot won in January by players in three states.
“It takes much bigger jackpots to get players excited,” she said. “It looks like the tipping point might be right about now.”
The winning numbers Tuesday night were white balls 29-64-46-53-73 and yellow ball 10.
Otto said before the drawing that the lottery consortium may not know whether there is a winner until about midnight Central time.
Earlier Tuesday, Paul Jeanne came out of Sam’s Lobby Shop in downtown Baltimore, Maryland waving a handful of Mega Millions tickets,
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