The nation-wide Mega Millions lottery jackpot is expected to reach at least $476 million on Friday, which would set a record for the largest prize in U.S. history. No one has won the game's top prize since January 24, which means the current $363 million jackpot will roll over once again to an unprecedented total. Mega Millions is played in 42 states and the District of Columbia and the massive top prize could grow even higher as the lure of such a huge number will bring many casual and first-time lottery players out of the woodwork. The largest jackpot in Mega Millions history was a $390 million prize won by a single person in Georgia in 2007. The odds of picking all five winning numbers, plus the "Mega Ball" are 175,700,000-to-one.

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Dashiell Bennett