Mega Millions jackpot keeps climbing

Scores of American Mega Millions Lottery ticket holders will be on the edge of their seats as the numbers are drawn for the largest lottery jackpot in world history of $640 million today (Friday).

The latest estimate is $100 million higher than yesterday’s (Thursday) after participating State officials assessed the volume of ticket sales… and that’s a conservative estimate that could rise higher once all ticket sales have been tallied, according to Massachusetts Lottery director, Paul Sternburg.

If one ticket matches all six numbers, the winner would have the choice of receiving the full jackpot in 26 annual payments of about $24.6 million, or a cash option of approximately $462 million.

“Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing will truly be a spectacular event in lottery history and provides an unprecedented opportunity for players to take a chance on a half-billion dollar dream for just the $1 price of a ticket,” said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery and lead director for the Mega Millions group.

If the numbers don’t produce a winner in the draw tonight, the jackpot is estimated to reach around $975 million in the next draw. The odds of winning in today’s lottery game, offered in 42 states and the Virgin Islands and District of Columbia, are 1 in 176 million.

The draw will be held 11:00 p.m. on Friday March, 30, 2012 in Eastern Time or 03:24:00 a.m. on Saturday March 31, 2012 in GMT.