More than a billion dollars on offer in US lottery

$1.6 billion dollars is on offer in a United States lottery. Known as Mega Millions, the lottery has reached more than a billion dollars for the fifth time in the game's history. If someone manages to win, they have the option to receive the prize paid out over 30 years or they can elect to get an $831 million dollar lump sum payment after tax.

FILE - The awnings of a store advertise the sale of lottery tickets, including Mega Millions, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in New York. The Mega Millions prize has grown to an estimated $1.05 billion for the Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, drawing. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Source: AP / Seth Wenig/AP

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TRANSCRIPT

America’s Mega Millions lottery gets drawn later today (Wednesday 2 August) and punter Wayne Hall says he's in it to win it.

"You know for the last two times, I had three numbers and then I had two numbers and a Powerball. Yesterday, I had 1 number and a Powerball so my chances are slim, but it's hopeful."

Collecha Newby says she'd invest the money in property, if her numbers come up.

"I would probably buy a ton of stuff, a house for my mum first and foremost, a house for myself, a few cars, do some investing."

The chance of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is about 1 in 302 million.

So, Stacy Weldon-Bey won't be buying a ticket.

"I am not playing.  Because the odds are so against us in what maybe centuries and decades?  No one has won here, no one; so I'm not buying into it. I don't want to be a billionaire. I just want a little piece of the pie and so I'm not gonna play it. Yeah, I'm just sceptical, I'm a sceptic about it. It's not happening."