Pa., Del. will sell Mega Millions tickets
Add Pennsylvania and Delaware to the states with plans to sell tickets for both major multistate lotteries.
Add Pennsylvania and Delaware to the states with plans to sell tickets for both major multistate lotteries.
Last week, officials in New Jersey, a Mega Millions state, said that Powerball could be available within the next few months.
On Jan. 31, Pennsylvania, a Powerball state, hopes to add Mega Millions, state lottery executive director Ed Trees announced today.
Other states already on board to double up include Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Arkansas.
A CNNMoney.com report, however, named two dozen Powerball states, including Delaware, as aiming to sell Mega Millions at the end of the month.
"Yes, we will start Jan. 31," Delaware Lottery director Wayne Lemons confirmed this afternoon.
Lottery analysts know that as jackpots grow, more people buy tickets. At about $200 million, sales skyrocket. So if a state has twice as many giant jackpots, revenues should shoot up, too, officials hope.
Drawings would double to four times a week - Tuesday and Friday for Mega Millions, Wednesday and Saturday for Powerball.
Pennsylvania "expects Mega Millions will generate about $80 million in sales during the final five months of the fiscal year, which would generate $19 million in net revenues for senior programs," according to a state lottery news release.
On the other hand, more players means jackpots could be more likely to be won before getting as big as past top prizes, such as the record $390 million split by a Cape May couple and a Georgia man in 2007.
For more lottery information, go to www.philly.com/philly/news/lottery, www.powerball.com or www.megamillions.com.
