There were no tickets sold with all six numbers in the latest multi-state Mega Millions draw, and the estimated jackpot for Friday's drawing will grow to $54 million, lottery officials announced tonight. Four tickets -- two sold in California and one each in Maryland and Texas -- had five numbers, but didn't have the Mega number. The ones sold in Maryland and Texas are each worth $250,000.
The value of the two sold in California is expected to be announced Wednesday. State law requires major payoffs of California Lottery games to be paid on a pari-mutuel basis. The numbers drawn last night were 14, 39, 47, 48, 53 and the Mega number is
29. The estimated jackpot was $43 million. The drawing was the fifth since the last time a ticket with all six numbers was sold. A ticket sold in New York for the March 13 draw had all six numbers and was worth $26 million.
The odds of matching all five numbers and the Mega number is 1 in 175,711,536, according to the Mega Millions Web site. Besides California, the Mega Millions game is played in Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington. California Lottery officials reminded the public that borrowing money to play the lottery, spending above a person's budget or using money intended for other purposes can ultimately lead to significant problems for players and their families. People with gambling problems or knowing individuals with gambling problems are advised to call the Problem Gambling Help Line, (800) Gambler.
