Mega Millions

Ohio's Latest Budget Gamble

More of this Feature • Part 2: Budget Rant • Mega Millions Winning Numbers • Casino Gambling in Ohio Elsewhere on the Web • Mega Millions Web Site

I had to laugh when I picked up the Columbus Dispatch recently and found the headline Here's How to Lose at Mega Millions Like A Real Expert on Joe Blundo's column. Joe said much of it better than I could myself:

Now you can join residents of eight other states in the fun of buying colorful tickets that you will throw away in bitter disappointment two days later....Two choices: Buy Mega Millions tickets...or take a dollar from your wallet and throw it into the nearest storm sewer. With either option, your odds are about the same. (Columbus Dispatch, May 18, 2002, Section 01F)

Blundo goes on to say "Mega Millions is designed to entertain Ohioans while preserving the political careers of Gov. Bob Taft and the members of the General Assembly." Absolutely.

But the state of Ohio is betting almost 2 million dollars in promotions on the profitability of Ohio's newest lottery game. Lottery commission officials claim Mega Millions will raise $41 million in profits next year, money they say would have gone to other states if Ohio hadn't joined in. Currently Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Virginia are part of Mega Millions. Neighboring Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia are among the 22 states participating in Powerball.

How to Play Mega Millions

• Tickets cost one dollar.
  
• Drawings are held at 11:00 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. on those days or any time otherwise.
  
• Six winning numbers are pulled: five white balls from a pool of 52 and one gold mega ball from another pool of 52. There is an Auto Pick option.
  
• There are nine ways to win: odds of winning range from 1 in 135,145,920 for the jackpot to 1 in 88 of winning $2. Overall your odds of winning anything are 1 in 43.
  
• Jackpots are projected to average $80 million with the potential to surpass $500 million.
  
• You have the option of playing the same numbers for up to 10 consecutive draws.
  
• Jackpot winners can select 26 annual payments or the Cash Option.

Next page > Budget Rant

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