New lottery game has same long odds

Starting this week, the state lottery is offering two extra chances a week to trade a buck for an unlikely chance at a life without care.

Tickets for Mega Millions, a multi-state, multi-million dollar jackpot drawing similar toPowerball, went on sale Sunday. Drawings for the game will be held every Tuesday and Friday nights, while Powerball drawings will continue on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Here are some key points:

Q: What's the difference between Powerball and Mega Millions?

Not much. In Powerball, players try to match five numbers drawn from the same pot of 59 white balls and the red Powerball drawn from a separate pot of 39 numbers. InMega Millions, players try to match five numbers drawn from the same pot of 56 white balls and the yellow Mega Ball drawn from a separate pot of 46 numbers.

Lower prizes are awarded for matching various combinations of numbers. In each game, tickets cost $1. Both games allow players to drop an extra buck for a chance to multiply lower level prizes.

Q: How much will I win?

Odds are, nothing. But for Powerball, the minimum jackpot is $20 million. The minimum Mega Millions jackpot is $12 million. The largest Powerball prize ever awarded was $365 million, while Mega Millions once awarded $390 million. Jackpots are based on the size of an annuity, so lump sum prizes would be lower.

Q: So if I can play four times a week, I can increase my chances to win, right?

No. No matter how many times you play, your odds are the same. The odds of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 175 million. The odds of hitting the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 195 million.

Q: I have more questions.

Go to the lottery Web site, nc-educationlottery.org or call its hot line: 1-877-962-7529.