Record Mega Millions jackpot tops $640 m

CALIFORNIA. March 31. KAZINFORM. Lottery fever has gripped the US as a draw took place for a $640m (£400m) Mega Millions prize, the biggest jackpot in world history, BBC reported.  

 

Earlier, queues snaked out of shops from coast to coast with some punters snapping up tickets by the bushel.

 

The prize has been swelling since 24 January, with no winner matching all five numbers in the last 18 draws.

Forty-two states are in the big draw, which was held in Atlanta, Georgia at 23:00 EDT (03:00 GMT).

The prize had stood at $540m before Friday's announcement. Lottery officials earlier estimated that customers would have spent some $1.5bn on tickets by the time of the draw.

A jackpot winner could choose between receiving the full amount of $640m in 26 annual payments (more than $24m a year) or an instant cash option of more than $460m.

 



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