Wisconsin joins 12 others states across the country tonight in the Mega Millions lottery drawing. Tickets went on sale in the Badger State Sunday, but lottery players have their first crack at the jackpot tonight. State Lottery director Mike Edmonds talked up the game at Ma & Pa’s on the “Miracle Mile” in Fond du Lac, which had a $208 million Powerball winner in 2006. He says it’s another game and another opportunity for lottery players.
AUDIO: Mike Edmonds (:25 MP3) AUDIO: Lottery director Mike Edmonds (:25 MP3)
He says it’s another opportunity to provide property tax relief and help out retailers who earned $30 million in commissions on the sales of lottery winners last year. Edmonds says it also benefits those 4,500 retailers because lottery players usually purchase something else while picking up their tickets.
Phil Moses of Ma & Pa’s says their clerks are getting used to Mega Millions and what it offers players.
AUDIO: Phil Moses (:18 MP3) AUDIO: Phil Moses (:18 MP3)
Ma & Pa’s had a $208 million Powerball winner in 2006, numbers purchased by 100 Sargento Cheese workers. Phil Moses of Ma & Pa’s says they’d love to have the first big Mega Millions winner in the state.
The Mega Millions is similar to Powerball, but the odds of winning the big jackpot aren’t quite as long; about 1 in 175 million versus 1 in 195 million. The Mega Millions jackpot for tonight’s drawing is at an estimated $12 million.
Bob Nelson, KFIZ