Mega Millions could top $1 billion by Friday
Long lines were expected to begin Wednesday and carry through Friday at Florida Lottery outlets as two games now have total jackpots of about $1.7 billion with those numbers expected to rise before the drawings.
Tuesday night, nobody matched the five numbers and mega ball number on Florida Mega Millions thus rolling over the top prize to an estimated $970 million, which retailers say should top $1 billion before Friday night's drawing. Tuesday's numbers were 10, 19, 26, 28, 50 and a 16 mega ball.
Mega Millions tickets are $2 each but players can pay an additional $1 to add the megaplier that increases non jackpot winnings up to five times.
To play Mega Millions, players select five numbers from 1 to 70 and one mega ball from 1 to 25.
Florida Powerball was drawn last night with an estimated $730 million jackpot.
Like Mega Millions, each Powerball ticket is $2 but players can add an additional $1 for power play, which increases the payout for non jackpot winners.
In Powerball, players select five numbers from 1 to 69 and a powerball from 1 to 26.
If nobody won the Powerball jackpot Wednesday night, it will likely be near $1 billion for Saturday night's drawing.
The current Florida Lotto drawing, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, had an estimated jackpot of $11 million for last night's drawing.
Danny Patel, owner of Southern Pitt Stop at 9321 North Century Boulevard, said he was expecting long lines Wednesday and more long lines before Friday night's Mega Millions drawing.
Although the store is open from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. he said the purchase of Lotto, Powerball and Mega Millions ends at 9 p.m.
Patel said his store saw about three times the number of customers it normally sees Tuesday as the Mega Millions pot continued to grow.
“We've been very busy and expect to be busy,” he said. “If nobody wins, it's going to be crazy.”
Patel said the majority of the customers purchasing lottery tickets are coming from Alabama, as far away as Birmingham. He also said he's had customers from Mississippi come to buy tickets.
