Mega Millions Lottery: Thousands Line Up For Chance To Win $640 Million (PHOTOS)

Thousands are lining up today across the country for their chance to win more than half a billion dollars.

That's right, lottery fever is sweeping the nation, as the Mega Millions jackpot is at a world record of $640 million.

Mega Millions increased its jackpot 19 percent to $640 million around 11 a.m. on Friday, Mega Millions spokesperson Carolyn Hapeman told The Huffington Post. In New York, tickets (priced at $1) are selling at the insane rate of 2.0 million per hour, Hapeman said. She said she expects ticket sales to only increase as the drawing approaches.

Forty-two states plus Washington, D.C. and the Virgin Islands participate in the drawing, to be held Friday at 11 p.m. ET.

In Los Angeles, some are waiting as long as two hours for tickets, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Ticket-buyers are apparently unfazed by the odds--a 1 in 176 million chance of winning. Put another way, you are 19 times as likely to get struck by lightning twice, according to The Los Angeles Times. But, as workers' salaries continue to decline when adjusted for inflation, many are taking the chance to vault their way into the top one percent.

Hundreds of people showed up at sunrise on Thursday to wait in line at a lotto store in Las Vegas that opened at 8 a.m., according to the Las Vegas Sun. Some people had to wait more than four hours outside to buy their tickets.

If you are buying tickets for the Mega Millions lottery, how much are you spending on lottery tickets? E-mail us at [e-mail].

The record-setting jackpot has drawn in many people who otherwise would not buy lottery tickets, according to several news outlets.

More people have been spending $100 to $200 on lottery tickets per visit, according to Luis Chun, a New Jersey cafe owner. "Usually people buy $1, $2 (worth of tickets)," Chun told the Star-Ledger. "Today, people are buying $100, $200."

Lottery players have been fantasizing about how they would spend the money if they won.

"I'd buy a second house," Lorraine Nania, a 79-year-old from Boston, told The Boston Globe. "And get someone to clean it. So I could just sit back. Maybe play some more bingo."

Paula Hart, 47, a messenger manager from New York City, told the New York Daily News that she would buy a mansion: "I would have a whole bunch of TVs through the house with some PlayStations 3, and I'd have my own swimming pool. I'd probably just have a bed filled with money so I could lie on it."

But some lottery players have more modest aims. "If I win, I'll quit my job and take care of the basic necessities, which means family first," Marcus Patrick, 39, a Detroit janitor, told the Detroit Free-Press.

Take a look at lottery lines around the country:

RATE IT!   |  

VOTE

CURRENT TOP 5 PICK YOUR OWN TOP 5

USERS WHO VOTED

NEW! CREATE YOUR OWN SLIDESHOW

UPDATE: The story has been updated to reflect an increase in Lotto jackpot and with comment from Mega Millions.

Comments

[sherylynn444]

10:56 AM on 04/07/2012

I'm so happy for all three winners. Don't forget to contribute to those who are less fortunate. It is your duty ......

[larnoldlc]

06:07 PM on 04/02/2012

funny how the need for greed will change a person like when you win big ever take note of just how meany friends will just show up funny and before the money they could care less about you or any thing about you but what if they needed something think about it

[pciorlandosales]

01:04 AM on 03/31/2012

If I won I'd by 640 million scratch off tickets! Yay!

[pciorlandosales]

01:01 AM on 03/31/2012

That's a lot of banana's!

[smegintx]

12:23 AM on 03/31/2012

Damn it!!! I gotta keep working

[PkFloyd]

05:31 PM on 03/30/2012

This lotto mania , a collective mass diversion, is at least partially being fueled by confluence of negative economic factors- unemployment,high debt,general uncertainty.Who are the majority making purchases?

[mxfw9999]

04:47 PM on 03/30/2012

Well what about the saving account I guess they are pending on a dream. if they put it away in 10 years it will have grown

[JenniferWest]

04:31 PM on 03/30/2012

I like the E-Trade commercial with the baby and the man's doing the scratch off.... The baby says, ya know you have more of a chance of being attacked by two different species of bear in the same day!

[Appleblossom]

04:21 PM on 03/30/2012

I would just be happy with the second place prize of $250,000.

[nancestef]

05:25 PM on 03/30/2012

I'm not greedy...I'd settle for that, too.

[Appleblossom]

06:36 PM on 03/30/2012

Yup-enough to pay off my small debts and buy a house for my sister.

[Jarrod38]

03:32 PM on 03/30/2012

Just to let everyone know I will be winning because I got a DMC-12 went to the future and got the numbers.

[BlogFans]

02:49 PM on 03/30/2012

Playing The Mega Millions Lottery Is A Sin, But The Church Will Forgive You If You Donate Ten Percent Of Your Wins.

[nancestef]

03:01 PM on 03/30/2012

Gambling is only a sin if it takes over your life.

Besides, churches have Bingo, don't they? If they can run Bingo games, I can buy a ticket! LOL!

[BlogFans]

08:05 PM on 03/30/2012

nancestef: "Besides, churches have Bingo, don't they?"

Hmm, you are correct. But churches say they do it for the 'benefit of the community.'

[pciorlandosales]

01:02 AM on 03/31/2012

So I guess that makes you kinda christian like?

[edenooch]

02:41 PM on 03/30/2012

pipe dreams

[Esther21072011]

02:54 PM on 03/30/2012

I could hire an entire army of bagpipers if I won.

[ronaldmal21]

02:38 PM on 03/30/2012

I've been listening to my Lottery Subliminal Tapes all this week. Hope it works

[ethiopia1a]

02:45 PM on 03/30/2012

Attention winners! This Kat is up for adoption.

[Esther21072011]

02:53 PM on 03/30/2012

Hmm- I think it's the lottery drawing machine that needs the tapes!

[Dan De Leon]

02:15 PM on 03/30/2012

Ridiculous !!

[ethiopia1a]

02:23 PM on 03/30/2012

Wow aren't you a load of fun.

[Barbara DeZan]

02:07 PM on 03/30/2012

What cracks me up are those saying: "no, it would effect my life that much. I'd probably still work"....

I say BALONEY

First....I'd take the cash.
Then, set up my family, my kids, grankids and heirs down the line...for life.
Then, a million to a Convent in Minnesota
Then, a bunch to my best friend in Oregon
Then, a 2 bedroom apartment/cabin on the ResidenSea ship...where I'd spend most of my time.
Then, that small bungalow I've been adoring for decades on Abaco Island would be mine.
Several million to Heifers International.

AND, I'd spring for Cable TV.......

[Esther21072011]

02:25 PM on 03/30/2012

And isn't all that dreaming worth a buck? :)

[ethiopia1a]

02:43 PM on 03/30/2012

When I win and become the 1% I promise not to forget about all the little people.

[Barbara DeZan]

12:11 AM on 04/01/2012

It was worth FIVE bucks.....

I was thrilled.

I got 4 numbers....over 5 tickets.

My odds are picking up....HA

[Appleblossom]

04:23 PM on 03/30/2012

I would but my circumstances are different than the average person-I made a promise to a lot of people about my current work so I will stay until that promise is fulfilled.

Then move to La Jolla and stick my toes in the sand. :)

[Barbara DeZan]

12:12 AM on 04/01/2012

La Jolly is the place for sandy toes, for sure.

Lovely, lovely place....