Mega Millions jackpot rises to $212m

Mega Millions jackpot rises to $212m

Lottery outlets are expecting stepped-up sales this afternoon as people plunk down their money to take a chance on tonight's drawing in the Mega Millions game, which is offering a jackpot of $212 million, the 10th largest in the game's history.

The game is offered in Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays.

The largest jackpot of $390 million was in March 2007, which was split by players from Georgia and New Jersey. A Massachusetts woman won the fourth biggest jackpot, $294 million, in 2004.

The lottery is expecting as many as 3,500 sales per minute this afternoon around the time people get out of work, a state lottery official said today.

If no one wins tonight, then the jackpot for Friday's drawing could rise to $250 million, officials said.

Source: The Boston Globe