DES MOINES, Iowa - The Mega Millions jackpot is up again, at a record high $970-million dollars for Friday night's drawing, and could go even higher.
The Powerball jackpot is up to $430 million dollars today, as there was no winner in last night's drawing.
Is it better to use your own numbers when you buy your lottery ticket, or let the machine decide with an automatic number pick?
"About 80% of the people do the Quick-Pick, where the computer picks it for them, and, about 20% do their own numbers, birthdays and anniversaries." The Iowa Lottery's Terry Rich, tells Simon Conway on WHO and WMT Radio.
He says neither method gives players a clear advantage. "Either way your odds of winning are about one in 302-(M) million." Rich says.
Rich tells Conway that over the years he has signed lottery payout checks to winners in Iowa totaling almost a billion dollars.