Mega Millions comes to PA Sunday

Pennsylvania has found another way to relieve you of that spare dollar sitting in your pocket. Mega Millions tickets go on sale in Pennsylvania starting Jan. 31.

From the Pennsylvania Lottery:

Lottery players can purchase Mega Millions tickets in Pennsylvania starting on Sunday, Jan. 31. The first Mega Millions drawing for Pennsylvania players will be Tuesday, Feb. 2.

"Soon, Pennsylvanians will be able to buy Mega Millions tickets from their local PA Lottery retailers rather than traveling outside of the state," said Lottery Executive Director Ed Trees. "Players will be able to buy tickets for Mega Millions and Powerball, which will give them a chance to play for bigger jackpots four nights a week.

"With a greater number of people playing both games, we can expect to see jackpots roll higher and faster."

The Mega Millions jackpot rolled to an estimated annuity value of $144 million, or $89.5 million cash, for tonight's drawing, which will be the last drawing before Pennsylvania joins Mega Millions.

Mega Millions jackpots start at $12 million, tickets cost $1 per play and drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. EST in Atlanta. Every Tuesday and Friday, Pennsylvania players will be able to see televised Mega Millions drawings on these stations and at these times:

-- Philadelphia - WPVI - 11:25 p.m.
-- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - WNEP - 11 p.m.
-- Harrisburg/Lancaster/Lebanon/York - WGAL - 11:20 p.m.
-- Johnstown/Altoona - WTAJ - 11:20 p.m.
-- Pittsburgh - WTAE - 11:22 p.m.
-- Erie - WJET - 11:20 p.m.

Mega Millions tickets will be available for purchase at more than 8,400 Pennsylvania Lottery retailers, where players already purchase tickets for Powerball and other games. Just as with Powerball, Mega Millions tickets will be available for purchase up to 13 weeks in advance and for the same night's drawing until 9:59 p.m.

The Multi-State Lottery Association, which manages the Powerball game, and the Mega Millions consortium reached an agreement in October 2009 on cross-selling Powerball and Mega Millions across U.S. lottery jurisdictions. Prior to the agreement, individual lotteries could only sell either Powerball or Mega Millions.