White Plains Lines Up As Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs To $636 Million

WESTCHESTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- As the Mega Millions jackpot has now surpassed $600 million, residents all over Westchester County are lining up at gas stations and delis to get their tickets and hopefully hit a huge payday Tuesday night.

Jennifer Abel grabbed a $1 Mega Millions ticket at Mababa Deli in Hastings on Tuesday.
Photo Credit: *Danny LoPriore*

by The Daily Voice

12/17/2013 1:15 p.m.

The jackpot total stands at $636 million as of early Tuesday afternoon as the 10:59 p.m. drawing nears.

Nobody has hit the jackpot since the game format was changed in October.

In the game, five numbers are drawn from a pool of 75 numbers up from the previous total of 56, and the Megaball numbers have been reduced from 46 to 15. The result is longer odds.

The change has reduced the chances of winning to 259 million to 1, down from 175 million to 1 under the old system.

Since nobody has hit the jackpot since the change, the pot has grown to the second largest jackpot in the game's history, trailing only the $656 million total that was collected in April 2012.

The drawing will be held just before 11 p.m. and will be televised locally on WABC-TV Channel 7.

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