More happy news-for someone! Mega Millions jackpot swells to record $370 million

[babylonsister]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/06/megamillions.ap/index.html

Mega Millions jackpot swells to record $370 million


NEW YORK (AP) -- Lottery machines cranked out tickets at a dizzying rate Tuesday as the multistate Mega Millions game drew bettors with a jackpot estimated at a record $370 million.

Because of the huge prize and publicity, the 12 participating states agreed to move Tuesday night's drawing from the game's usual home in Atlanta to New York's Times Square.

Two winners split a $363 million jackpot in 2000 when Mega Millions was known as the seven-state Big Game.

The competing Powerball game -- available in 29 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands -- has the record for the largest single winner with $314.9 million, on Christmas Day.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are about 1 in 176 million.

more...

[soleft]

1. In NY if you buy five tkts - you get 1 free

People who might ordinarilly buy 1 ticket I'm sure are buying 5. With the freebies my office pool as 92 tickets for tonight.

[KansDem]

2. WHAT?!?!? No Kansas or Missouri ticket sales???

Mega Millions tickets are sold in California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington state.

DAMN!!! And I had plans for that money!! :grr:

[Monkeyman]

3. Stop I have the winner LOL

[central scrutinizer]

4. tax on ignorance

way to keep the sheeple from demanding better wages and health care. Hey, I might be rich someday so I better vote for this Repug who wants to cut taxes for the rich and cut social services.

[TahitiNut]

14. Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 175,711,536

Therefore, when jackpot exceeds $175,711,536 the odds are favorable. (That assumes anyone can afford to play 175,711,536 times, of course.)

:silly:

[kestrel91316]

27. So if I spend a dollar tonight I am ignorant????

The $1 is well worth the entertainment value alone of getting excited thinking how I would spend $350 million.

How much do YOU spend on personal entertainment every month? How much do you spend on CABLE TV ALONE????

I don't have cable. I figure you can go suck an egg if you don't like my occasional dollar going to the lottery.

[central scrutinizer]

30. From a mathematical viewpoint

You calculate the expected value of any game of chance. If the expected value is less than the amount wagered, then the game is unfair and the house wins, the bettors lose. The expected value in most lotteries is far less than 50 cents for a dollar wagered. By contrast, craps has an expected value of around 95 cents, roulette is around 94.7 cents. By the way, not that it is any of your business, I spend nothing on cable TV since I don't watch TV and I use free dialup for my internet. But I am glad you find enjoyment in it.

[Squatch]

5. I won $150 on the last drawing.

[underpants]

12. What were the last numbers????

I have a ticket but my workplace won't let me get onto the megamillions website

[underpants]

13. Never mind I have them

Fri 3/2/2007
14,21,33,35,51
Mega Ball : 43

[DKRC]

22. I had 3 of them nt

[TahitiNut]

6. $8,910,175.75 annually after taxes (in Michigan)

($14,230,769 before taxes)

[babylonsister]

9. But who's counting?

:rofl:

[TahitiNut]

17. I returned my ticket last Saturday and told the clerk it was faulty.

:evilgrin: (She didn't buy my story.)

[bluestateguy]

7. Hopefully the winner's life will turn out better than the last winner (Powerball)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Whittaker_(lottery_winner)

cut

The pressures of his new wealth also caused numerous problems. Whittaker has been arrested several times and has had numerous well-publicized legal and family problems.

On August 5, 2003, thieves broke into his car while it was parked at the Pink Pony, a strip club in Cross Lanes, West Virginia. The thieves went away with $545,000 in cash <1><2>. Two employees at the same club were later arrested and charged with a plot to put drugs in Whittaker's drinks and then rob him. On January 25, 2004, thieves once again broke into his car, this time making off with an estimated $100,000 in cash.

Jack Whittaker was then arrested for drunk driving on Interstate 64 on January 16, 2003. If convicted, he could face up to 6 months in jail. On January 6, 2004, Whittaker was arrested for misdemeanor assault after allegedly threatening the life of a bar manager in St. Albans, West Virginia, a charge that could bring an additional 6 months in jail. He has also been sued after allegedly groping a woman at a dog racetrack. Whittaker told a TV station after he was charged with drunken driving, "It doesn't bother me because I can tell everyone to kiss off."

In September 2003, Jesse Tribble, a 17-year-old friend of Jack's granddaughter Brandi Bragg, was found dead in Whittaker's home in Teays Valley, West Virginia. A coroner's report indicated that he died of a drug overdose. Several months later, on December 20, 2004, Brandi, 17, was found dead after a drug overdose. After she had been missing for several weeks, her body was discovered lying under a tarpaulin near her boyfriend's home in Scott Depot.

At an October 11, 2005 hearing related to his January 2003 DUI, a visibly shaken Whittaker lashed out at area law enforcement agencies for focusing on his troubles while failing to arrest anyone in relation to his granddaughter's death <3>,

“ "Go after whoever killed my granddaughter with as much zealous as these butt holes are trying to convict me of something I didn’t do." ”

Whittaker is also being sued by Caesars Atlantic City casino for bouncing $1.5 million worth of checks to cover gambling losses. Whittaker is also countersuing them, claiming that his losses were supposed to be credited due to a slot machine he developed and that they in fact owe him money. <4>

On January 11, 2007, Jack Whittaker announced that thieves on September 11, 2006 took most of the money <1>. The robbers, according to his account, went to 12 City National Bank branches and cashed 12 checks. The incident came to light because Whittaker has not been paying money to a woman that had previously sued him. Kitti French filed a complaint earlier in the week, requesting court costs and money from Jack Whittaker.

[Kolesar]

18. that's really sad...eom

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

23. I Just Read All About This Guy At Wiki...

I'd be willing to bet any amount of money that he's a right wing repub.

Sounds like a complete and utter loser. Some people make the most of what gifts they're given by god. Others take complete advantage and FUCK UP COMPLETELY.

[CrispyQ]

8. The Lottery: A Tax on People Who Can't Do Math

Saw that on a bumper sticker once.

:rofl:

[cynatnite]

10. ...

:rofl:

[HughBeaumont]

15. But someone with bad math skills will win.

[CrispyQ]

28. It's such a joke, isn't it?

Millions support anti-tax legislation on the hope that they will be the One in X gazillion to win the lotto & not have to give up X bazillion to the govt when they finally win the Big One.

Insanity.
...
..
.
OMG!! I have a powerball ticket in my wallet. ;)

[wuushew]

11. Gambling creates nothing of value

it is simply moving money between collective fools who as a group will experience a net loss.

Promoting gambling runs contrary to all progressive ideals of taxation and wealth distribution.

[cynatnite]

20. Well, I can think of a few things I'd do with that money...

but, I will say this. I agree with you to a point. I can't speak for other states or even other school districts, but I can of ours. The lottery has done a lot of good for the schools here. We get up to date books, decent classes with smart teachers, healthier food and a system full of people who care. While I know many people may not share my opinions about this I can't say enough good things about the schools my kids attend.

The superintendent likes to brag they did all this without the assistance of NCLB and he is glad they don't rely on that funding.

[Midlodemocrat]

25. Same here. The lottery benefits the public schools.

[Monkeyman]

16. If I win the Party will only be DU members

[ShortnFiery]

19. Driving into D.C. today ...

Baby needs new shoes! ;)

[babylonsister]

21. Gold-plated! (what's more expensive than gold?)nt

[northzax]

31. DC is powerball

not mega millions. just to save you the trip.

[michaelwb]

24. Okay

Sure I'd like to win.

But if I win, do I have to start voting Republican and supporting Bush?

Because if do, I think I'll pass.

}(

[kestrel91316]

26. I gotta go get a ticket. If I win, I will donate something to DU!

[americanstranger]

29. Like the man says...

You have a batter chance of them giving you the money by accident.

- as