US lotto frenzy may push jackpot to $1bn

The Mega Millions jackpot was inching towards a US lottery record, soaring to $586m (€426m) amid a frenzy of ticket purchases and raising the possibility that the prize could pass the billion-dollar mark by Christmas Eve.

Paula Otto, executive director of the Virginia Lottery and lead director for Mega Millions, said ticket sales were ahead of projections for last night’s draw, increasing the likelihood it could shatter the current record of $656m, set in a March 2012 Mega Millions draw.

That was enough for Drew Gentsch to buy one ticket this week. The lawyer from Des Moines, Iowa, rarely plays, but the ballooning jackpot was just too good to pass up.