LYNN — These frigid winter nights could get a lot warmer on the North Shore if residents share more than $700 million across three lottery jackpots.
Scott Roberts made his way to 7-Eleven on Lynnfield Street to purchase a chance at winning the jackpot.
“I saw the total was pretty big this year,” he said. “I’ve been playing for years, always hoping that someday I’ll get lucky.”
If he wins, the Lynn resident would retire and focus on living an enjoyable and relaxing life.
The Massachusetts State Lottery Mega Millions jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $306 million, while the Powerball jackpot on Saturday is $384 million. The third jackpot will be for Saturday’s in-state Megabucks Doubler drawing, at a paltry $7.9 million.
Abu Daniel, a clerk at Nina’s Market on Essex Street, is preparing for a slew of lottery ticket sales this weekend.
“It’s not the amount of people coming in to buy them that’s big, it’s the amount of tickets they buy,” he said. “The average person buys more than two tickets, depending on which game they choose.”
Tonight’s Mega Millions drawing will be the 22nd since the jackpot was last hit in October, when a $43 million jackpot was shared on tickets sold in Michigan and Rhode Island. The game’s estimated jackpot will be the highest since August, when a $393 million jackpot was won on a ticket sold in Illinois.
In Saugus, retired teacher Liz Kingsley purchased a few tickets while playing Keno at the Saugus Central Convenient Store.
“I always play the same numbers,” she said. “If I ever won that much money, I would finish the restorations on my house and probably do a lot of charity work.”
Sam Youseff, a Lynn resident for more than 30 years, was all smiles as he purchased his Mega Millions ticket. He flushed at the thought of being able to afford getting out of the region’s freezing temperatures.
“I’ll probably just go on a nice vacation with someone special,” he said. “Somewhere a lot warmer than it is here right now.”
The deadline to buy a Mega Millions ticket is tonight at 10:45 p.m. with the drawing time being 11 p.m. The Powerball ticket deadline is Saturday at 9:50 p.m. with the drawing time at 10:59 p.m. The Megabucks Doubler deadline is Saturday at 10:45 p.m. with the drawing at 11:20 p.m.
