LANSING, May 5, 2000 – As of 11 a.m. (Eastern) today, lottery officials for The Big Game announced that – due to very strong ticket sales throughout the seven Big Game states – the estimated jackpot for Friday, May 5 has been increased by $10 million!
The jackpot for tonight’s Big Game drawing now sits at a record $230 million!
"This is getting to be a trend for us!" joked Michigan Lottery Commissioner Don Gilmer. "People are definitely paying attention to tonight’s jackpot, and ticket sales are at an all-time high for this drawing. Now I really know what ‘jackpot fever’ means!"
If one winning ticket matches all six numbers in Friday night’s drawing and the player has selected annuity payments over 26 years, the $230 million jackpot would amount to pre-tax payments of roughly:
- $8.84 million per year;
- $170,118 per week; or
- $24,302 per day!
For those who prefer to take their cash winnings up-front, it’s a pretty nice payday as well. If one lucky cash-option player matches all six winning numbers, he or she will take home a check for approximately $114 million (before taxes), the estimated present cash value of Friday’s $230,000,000 jackpot.
Big Game tickets are available in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia. Friday’s drawing will be conducted at 11 p.m. and broadcast on cable superstation WGN out of Chicago as well as a network of Michigan stations (check local listings). For more information, you can also visit The Big Game’s new Web site at: www.theofficialbiggame.com.
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