Amid Mega Millions frenzy, California Lottery stresses responsible gambling habits
As the Mega Millions jackpot surged to $1.1 billion dollars ahead of Friday’s draw, the California State lottery urged the thousands of Californians trying their hand this week to participate responsibly.
The jackpot reached $1.1 billion this week, after no winning tickets were drawn for the jackpot on Tuesday and the prize went unclaimed. It is the fourth time in U.S. history that a lottery drawing has climbed over a billion dollars, California Lottery spokeswoman Carolyn Becker said.
The size of the jackpot has been accompanied by a spike in ticket sales. According to Becker, Mega Millions sales average under $6 million a week for a starting jackpot of $20 million. This week, sales have jumped to an average of $10 million a day.
“It gets so exciting,” Becker said. “A billion dollars is so shiny. We want it to be shiny, but we want it to be responsibly shiny.”
Don’t rely on online ticket sales
The first warning Becker issued to Californians playing the lottery this week was to ensure that they are purchasing tickets from accredited vendors, rather than third-party retailers who sell tickets online.
Online lottery ticket sales are not authorized or regulated in the state of California, Becker said, emphasizing that the only safe way to purchase tickets is in-person at one of the over 23,000 retailers that the California State Lottery oversees.
“If it exchanges hands with a third party, you’re doing that at your own risk,” Becker said. “I don’t know what would happen if you won a billion dollars and there was a third party involved. That’s not precedented.”
Remember to be responsible
Becker also stressed that players caught up in the excitement of the high jackpot keep in mind the limits of responsible gambling.
The California Lottery works closely with the Office of Problem Gambling within the California Department of Public Health, Becker said, which operates a hot line — 800-426-2537 — for anyone concerned that they or a loved one has an unhealthy relationship with gambling.
“Problem gambling is a legitimate issue that arises for people who play lotteries or gamble at card rooms or whatever,” Becker said. “We actually have resources that we devote to ensuring we’re helping our players understand what the signs are — if you have to borrow money to play the lottery, we advise against it.”
Keeping responsible gambling habits in mind is paramount, Becker said, as the excitement surrounding the lottery rises to a fever pitch — some of the California Lottery’s 23,000 retailers saw lines out the door on Thursday.
The next Mega Millions jackpot drawing will be held at 8 p.m. Pacific time, and Becker said she would be “shocked” if the jackpot prize does not go up even more before then.