Photo: Jay Willett/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A chunk of cold hard cash certainly beats a chunk of coal in the stocking, and lottery players have a chance, small, but a chance for that reality. The Mega Millions jackpot has soared up to $1 billion just in time for Christmas Eve.
The cash prize option has now increased to an estimated $448.8 million.
If the jackpot is hit when the drawing happens at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, it would be the seventh largest in the history of the game, according to Mass Lottery.
The jackpot is large enough this time around that local liquor stores and gas stations in the area are putting paper signs at the cash register to clue some customers in.
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WBZ NewsRadio asked locals what they would do if they won such a large amount of money.
“I would buy my house!” one man said.
“I would probably buy a car,” another man said.
Some people had more ambitious ideas.
“Probably invest – the next plan? Maybe buy a helicopter,” one New Englander said.
A win of Tuesday’s $1 billion jackpot prize would be the largest since a $1.128 billion jackpot ticket was sold in New Jersey on March 26 of this year.
According to Mass Lottery, Mega Millions tickets are $2 each and can be played in 45 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawing tickets can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. on Tuesday at Mass Lottery retailers across the state.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.