The Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are now at a combined $2.22 billion, as bettors with big dreams hope the total soars even higher before this week’s drawings.
The Powerball prize climbed to $620 million after no one hit all six numbers in Saturday night’s drawing — but it’s the Mega Millions’ already-record $1.6 billion kitty that’s garnering all the attention.
“The greedy part of me wants to play only Mega Millions because who can resist a billion and a half dollars?” Michael Estaban, 38, of Lakeview, LI, said on Sunday.
“But then the common sense in me says I should split my money between the two, because why should I pass up a measly half a billion?”
“But then the common sense in me says I should split my money between the two, because why should I pass up a measly half a billion?”
Estaban ended up plunking down $10 apiece on Mega Millions and Powerball tickets at Carlton Cards in Penn Station, which sells an average of $246,000 in tickets a week, the most in New York state, according to data obtained by USA Today.
The Mega Millions pot is so out of control that its 11 directors have ramped up their usual twice-a-week phone calls to once a day to figure out the new total.
The consortium of lottery officials is holding its next conference call Monday morning to analyze ticket sales from over the weekend to determine whether it can up the jackpot.
“If sales are running ahead, we may take the jackpot up another notch,” Mega Millions lead director Gordon Medenica told The Post.
Asked whether the Mega Millions could reach $2 billion, Medenica replied, “I’m not going to jinx it.’’
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