With a Mega Millions payout of $587.5 million, who wouldn’t run to the store and buy a lottery ticket?

President Obama for one. When asked whether he would be purchasing a ticket for the record Mega Millions payout, the president replied with skepticism that he would not. In a 2000 interview, the then senator replied “One of the concerns that I have, obviously, is that a disproportionate number of people who consistently buy lottery tickets tend to be lower-income and working-class people who can least afford it.” He continued to add that even if this was to be considered “entertainment” dollar, the way lower and middle class families were strategically marketed too was unfair.

Though strong on the negative in 2000, the President’s views seem to have altered slightly since becoming president. Players of the lottery now have an option to pay an additional $3 when they purchase their tickets to be entered in a chance to win dinner with Barack and Michelle, although no purchase is necessary to enter.

There were 2 Powerball winners in the drawing for the Mega Millions payout who matched all 6 numbers; One from Arizona and one from Missouri.

Texas had the honor of awarding 4 residents $1 million each for their 5 number matches. According to www.txlottery.org, lottery sales soared to a record $74,880 in sales per minute during the peak selling period of 6:00-6:59pm. The winners reside in Dallas, Houston, Humble and San Antonio with the San Antonio winner cashing in first.

Not to be left out, the South Carolina Powerball lottery entries were through the roof with over 140,000 winning lottery tickets totaling $5.3 million.

3 of the winning South Carolina Powerball tickets were sold with 5 of the 6 numbers matching. 2 of the ticket holders will each receive $1 million, but one lucky winner will cash in on an amazing impulse decision to add Powerplay to the ticket which doubled the Mega Millions payout to a cool $2 million. The $2 million dollar South Carolina Powerball ticket was sold at the H&S Shoppe in Andrews while the 2 $1 million dollar winners hailed from Florence and Rock Hill.

Originating in 1996, the Mega Millions was originally called “The Big Game”, only changing to the more familiar moniker in 2002.

When The Big Game started, it was composed of 6 states: Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Today 42 states, the District of Colombia and the U.S Virgin Islands all participate in the Mega Millions payout.

The first Big Game jackpot was drawn on April 6, 1996 with a payout of $197 million to a single winner. Comparatively, the first Mega Million jackpot in 2002 paid out $325 million to 3 winners. There have been 1,622 Mega Million payout’s since originating in 1996.

There are some who question the future of the lottery. Will the losers one day realize they are foolishly funneling money into some other lucky winner’s pockets and give up? Will the lucky winners be content with their winnings and move on to another endeavor with their fortunes?

In the words of the great author Shirley Jackson: “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and had lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones.” – The Lottery