Mega-long odds for winning record jackpot

[longnecker]

Thousands of people wait in line to buy tickets for the Mega Millions Lottery jackpot in California near Primm, Nev., Thursday,
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A world-record $540 million Mega Millions jackpot has lottery players lining up for tickets early Friday and many wondering if there's any way to guarantee becoming an overnight multimillionaire.
The answer: Not unless you already are one and own a magic wand.
The jackpot is so large, someone with enough money could theoretically buy up every possible number combination, thereby guaranteeing a winning ticket — but only if you suspended the laws of physics.
A $540 million jackpot, if taken as a $390 million lump sum and after federal tax withholding, works out to about $293 million. With the jackpot odds at 1 in 176 million, it would cost $176 million to buy up every combination. Under that scenario, the strategy would win $117 million — less if your state also withholds taxes.
But there are too many limitations. First, if it takes five seconds to fill out each card, you'd need almost 28 years just to mark the bubbles on the game tickets. You'd also use up the national supply of special lottery paper and lottery-machine printing ink well before all your tickets could be printed out.
With a jackpot this large, experts say, there also is a greater chance of multiple winners. If you have to share the jackpot with even one other winner, you've lost $30 million.
Mike Catalano, chairman of the mathematics department at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., concedes the math is clear: The more tickets you buy, the better your chances of winning.
So, if you buy 10 tickets filled out 10 different ways, your odds of winning the jackpot 10 in 176 million.
"You are about 50 times as likely to get struck by lightning as to win the lottery, based on the 90 people a year getting struck by lightning," Catalano said. "Of course, if you buy 50 tickets, you've equalized your chances of winning the jackpot with getting struck by lightning."
http://www.wtnh.com/dpps/news/strang...12-jgr_4121085

[Tralee]

Look at those lines, I think my husband and some of his partners probably got some group tickets, we never win, so I'll not order that 18 Karet diamond yet.
What would you do with all that money? Even after taxes it's at least a quarter of a BILLION dollars!

[Grin]

What would you do with all that money? Even after taxes it's at least a quarter of a BILLION dollars!

Pack three pair of shorts and a couple tee shirts and head south, to some island in the Caribbean, leaving the sledgehammer and mailbox behind.

[max1]

What would you do with all that money?

I'm sure I would make a whole lot of folks happy. One thing you won't hear about is me in a strip club somewhere drunk with a suitcase full of money.

http://www.karemar.com/blog/lottery-...nners-all-time

[Tralee]

Pack three pair of shorts and a couple tee shirts and head south, to some island in the Caribbean, leaving the sledgehammer and mailbox behind.

Love it Grin, right, who the heck needs a mailbox or a sledgehammer on your own private caribbean island? Whoo Hoo, take the snorkeling gear though. Who needs shorts? It's your PRIVATE island, take a few sheets to wrap around if needed. Ok,maybe a little sunscreen.

[Josef]

I've always wanted to own the Kansas City Royals

[hockey]

Maryland announced that they sold one winning ticket. Other states may have sold winning tickets too ... I guess we'll hear more in the morning.

Whoever wins will have to deal with an onslaught of media and they will likely become one of those weird famous people... like Nadya Suleman, Paris Hilton or those Jersey Shore losers. I'm not sure it would be worth all that.

So, am I the only one who did NOT buy a ticket?

[EpicWin]

So, am I the only one who did NOT buy a ticket?

No. Didn't even bother.

[Josef]

Maryland announced that they sold one winning ticket. Other states may have sold winning tickets too ... I guess we'll hear more in the morning.

Whoever wins will have to deal with an onslaught of media and they will likely become one of those weird famous people... like Nadya Suleman, Paris Hilton or those Jersey Shore losers. I'm not sure it would be worth all that.

So, am I the only one who did NOT buy a ticket?

Nada for me as well. Is Delaware one of the states or would I have had to go to MD if I wanted to buy one?

[longnecker]

Nada for me as well. Is Delaware one of the states or would I have had to go to MD if I wanted to buy one?

Yes Delaware has both MegaMillion and Powerball. I don't play until it's over $100million and for the $5 ticket I get enough pleasant thoughts to make it worthwhile. Checkout www.delottery.com for all games.