$205 Million: Mega Millions Lottery Jackpot

Lottery mania is spreading across the United States as the Mega Millions lottery reaches a jackpot of $205 million.

(PRWEB) April 22, 2005 -- Lottery mania is spreading across the United States as the Mega Millions lottery reaches a jackpot of $205 million.

According to the New Jersey Lottery, retailers across the state were selling over $2,300 of Mega Millions tickets per minute leading up to last night's drawing.

None of the tickets sold for Tuesday's $168 million drawing matched all five lotto numbers and the Mega Ball. The next drawing will be Friday.

There were 17 second-prize winners: 2 from Georgia, 1 from Illinois, 4 from New Jersey, 4 from New York, 1 from Ohio, 3 from Texas, 1 from Virginia, and 1 from Washington. Each ticket matched all five lotto numbers but not the Mega Ball number to win $175,000.

Also, 77 players matched four of the five lotto numbers, plus the Mega Ball number. Those tickets are each worth $5,000.

The winning numbers from Tuesday's drawing were five, six, 14, 42, and 47. The Mega Ball number was three.

The Texas Megaplier was 3.

"People are coming in constantly and lining up," said Paul Ghai, the manager of Hudson News in Newark, New Jersey. The lottery machine is busiest during rush hour, as people commute to and from work, he said.

JSQ Convenience on Kennedy Boulevard sold over 800 tickets in just two days. Mohamed Khair, a worker at the store, said he even bought one for himself.

"I'd keep 10 percent for myself and 90 percent to charity," Khair said. "If you have more than this, you'll spoil yourself and ruin your family."

Jersey City resident James Williams, a retired Conrail worker, had similar intentions. "I would give some to my family and to my church," he said.

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