North Carolina will soon offer the two largest lottery games in the country.
Mega Millions will join Powerball after getting the ok Monday from the lottery commission.
Odds of winning either are very small.
The lottery commission expects it to be a winning combination for education.
“Here you go,” says a convenience store clerk after punching up a Mega Millions ticket. “I hope it’s a winner.”
It always starts with a dream ticket.
However, those dreams of millions often go unrealized.
The North Carolina Education Lottery Commission's decision to offer mega millions is based on its own reality.
"Our number one assignment here is to raise as much money for the education programs as possible," said North Carolina Education Lottery Executive Director Tom Shaheen.
Money for the schools won't drastically change their financial situation.
Nevertheless, the schools will take it.
"I'm delighted to hear more money coming into the coffers,” said Pitt County School Board Chair Mary Grace Bright. “I think it's great."
Like Powerball, Mega Millions offers jackpots that can reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
A big question is whether the state will be able to support both.
Powerball sales reached $210 million last year.
Lottery officials say Mega Millions could cut into that number, but they still expect at least a seven-percent increase for the two games combined.
That would mean $10 million to $15 million more a year for schools across the state.
Those mega millions sound good, but as it stands now, money from the lottery only accounts for roughly four-percent of the state's total education budget.
"The lottery has not given us what we thought it would, but certainly we have received benefits from the lottery that has helped our students and helped our building programs and capital programs in Pitt County," Bright said.
Those programs could get another boost if people chase those Mega Millions dreams.
Mega Millions tickets could go on sale in North Carolina by the end of January.
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