PA Lottery Urges Responsible Play as Mega Millions Offers $400 Million Jackpot

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With excitement building for Friday night's $400 million Mega Millions® jackpot – the second-largest jackpot in that game's history – the Pennsylvania Lottery today encouraged players to please play responsibly.

To help players manage pooled ticket purchases with other players, the Lottery offers "Pool Play" forms on its website at www.palottery.com. Forms are available for the Mega Millions, Powerball®, Match 6 Lotto and Millionaire Raffle games. 

In addition to offering space to list the names of pool members, the forms include the current jackpot and next drawing date. Forms are not a substitute for a lottery ticket, may not be used to claim a prize, and will not be accepted as evidence of an entry into any lottery game.

The Lottery today also reminded players that its games make great holiday gift ideas for anyone age 18 and older, but players should refrain from giving tickets as gifts to minors.

The Pennsylvania Lottery has teamed with the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and other lotteries to educate the public about age-appropriate lottery play. The council is online at www.ncpgambling.org.

As part of its social responsibility mission, the Pennsylvania Lottery also funds and promotes the Pennsylvania Compulsive Gambling hotline, 1-800-848-1880.  To learn more about the warning signs of problem gambling and available services, visit www.palottery.state.pa.us/About-PA-Lottery/Play-Responsibly.aspx.

How to Play Mega Millions: Mega Millions tickets cost $1 per play. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 75 and one number from 1 to 15 (the Mega Ball). Players may select their own numbers using a Mega Millions play slip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks.

For an extra $1 per play, players can add the Megaplier. Prior to the Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier number – ranging from two to five – is randomly selected. The Megaplier applies to non-jackpot prizes.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 43 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Pennsylvania, tickets are available for sale until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights (Tuesdays and Fridays). Learn more about the game online at www.megamillions.com.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed nearly $23.7 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state.

The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For drawings results, winning numbers, winners' stories and to subscribe to the Lottery's RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Also log in to Facebook and like us at www.facebook.com/palottery or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

Media contacts: Gary Miller or Lauren Piccolo, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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