For Immediate Release:                                     Contact:  Communications Office

December 13, 2013                                                               (518) 388-3415

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- The New York Lottery today announced the jackpot for tonight’s Mega Millions drawing has been increased to $425,000,000. The $25,000,000 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 December 2009 and 2011, New York had a Mega Millions jackpot winner during the holiday season.  We are hopeful that our lucky holiday jackpot history with Mega Millions will continue for this year as well,” said Gardner Gurney, Acting Director of the Division of the Lottery.

Past holiday jackpot Mega Millions winners include Richard and Mary Morrison of Miller Place, Suffolk County, who won $165,000,000 from the December 22, 2009 drawing, and Daniel Bruckner of San Jose, California, who won $208,000,000 from the December 27, 2011 drawing. “At $425,000,000, more than these two previous December jackpots combined, someone could have a very memorable holiday season,” Gurney said.

The new jackpot marks the second largest Mega Millions jackpot in the game's 11-year history since New York joined the game. The jackpot has not been at this level since March 2012 when a $363,000,000 jackpot had no winner resulting in the largest Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million for the March 30, 2012 drawing.  Three players from Illinois, Kansas and Maryland split the jackpot.

If no one matches all five numbers plus the Mega Ball in tonight’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow. Tickets for tonight’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