For Immediate Release:                                      Contact:  Communications Office

March 12, 2014                                                                     (518) 388-3414

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- The New York Lottery today announced the jackpot for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing has been increased to $353,000,000. The $44,000,000 jump from Tuesday’s advertised jackpot is due to brisk sales across all 44 participating Mega Millions states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“In March 2009 and 2011, New York had a Mega Millions jackpot winner close to St. Patrick’s Day. We are hopeful that our lucky St. Patrick’s Day history with Mega Millions will continue for this year as well,” said Gardner Gurney, Acting Director of the Division of the Lottery.  Gurney further stated, “Also, it’s not just the top jackpot prize, March is lucky for New Yorkers as nearly 100 Mega Millions players have won $1,000,000 or more during the month of March from 2009 to 2014.”

Past Mega Millions winners who won the jackpot close to St. Patrick’s Day include Isabel Zelaya of Wyandanch, Suffolk County who won $26,000,000 on the March 13, 2009 drawing, and a group of New York State workers called the “Albany 7” who won $319,000,000 on the March 25, 2011 drawing. “At $353,000,000, more than these two jackpots combined, someone could have a very memorable month of March in 2014,” Gurney said.

If no one matches all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in Friday’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow. Tickets for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing can be purchased until 10:45 p.m. EST.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.04 billion in fiscal year 2012-2013 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts. 

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education.  It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.

About the New York State Gaming Commission

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at race tracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.