$1 at a time, Americans wager nearly $1.5 billion on longest of shots to become a millionaire

The Washington Post:

Across the country, Americans plunked down an estimated $1.5 billion on the longest of long shots: an infinitesimally small chance to win what could end up being the single biggest lottery payout the world has ever seen.

But forget about how the $640 million Mega Millions jackpot could change the life of the winner. It’s a collective wager that could fund a presidential campaign several times over, make a dent in struggling state budgets or take away the gas worries and grocery bills for thousands of middle-class citizens.

And it’s a cheap investment for the chance of a big reward, no matter how long the odds — 1 in 176 million.

“Twenty to thirty dollars won’t hurt,” said Elvira Bakken of Las Vegas. “I think it just gives us a chance of maybe winning our dream.”

Read the whole story: The Washington Post

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