Community Corner
Drawing for Mega Millions Jackpot is Hours Away
The jackpot reaches a record $640 Million.
A jackpot expected to be at least $640 million --the highest lottery jackpot ever -- will be on the line tonight in the
multistate Mega Millions game.
"A jackpot that large can cause problems,'' Keith S. Whyte, executive
director of the National Council on Problem Gambling told City News Service.
"While most people gamble for entertainment, those who gamble to make money or who see the lottery as an investment are more likely to be problem gamblers.''
The Mega Millions game is played in 41 states, the District of Columbia
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The odds of matching all five numbers and the Mega
number is 1 in 175,711,536, according to the Mega Millions website. The overall
chance of winning a prize is 1 in 40.
According to the California Lottery, the cash payout for a single
jackpot winner in tonight's drawing would be at least $462 million. If a winner
chooses the annual payment option, it would be at leas $24.6 million a year for
26 years -- before taxes. The retailer who sells the winning ticket will
receive a bonus of $1 million.
A ticket with all six numbers has not been sold since the Jan. 24
drawing, 18 drawings ago. Tickets will be sold until 7:45 p.m and the draw will
be held just before 8 p.m.
The previous largest jackpot on record -- $390 million -- was won in the
March 6, 2007, Mega Millions drawing.
The unprecedented sum being vied for tonight has given rise to fresh
concerns about problem gambling.
California Lottery officials reminded the public that borrowing money to
play the lottery, spending above one's budget or using money that had been
earmarked for something else can ultimately lead to significant problems for
players and their families.
Between 6 million and 9 million adults meet criteria for gambling
addiction, said Whyte, whose organization, based in Washington, D.C., is the
national advocate for programs and services to assist problem gamblers and
their families.
To Whyte, "states who legalize gambling have an economic and ethical
obligation to provide services to prevent and treat gambling addiction.''
"Every $1 spent on these programs saves at least $3 in social costs,''
Whyte said. "The estimated social cost of gambling-related addiction,
bankruptcy and crime is $7 billion.''
California "has top-notch problem gambling prevention and treatment
programs,'' said Terri Sue Canale, deputy director of the Office of Problem
Gambling, which is part of the state's Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs.
A toll-free number (800) GAMBLER offers counseling and referral services
24 hours a day and can translate into more than 200 languages, Canale said.
There is also a toll-free Asian crisis management helpline, (888) 968-
7888, "offering culturally appropriate services'' 24 hours a day, primarily in
Mandarin and Cantonese, but can also offer assistance to people speaking other
Asian languages, Canale said.
The California Problem Gambling Treatment Services Program offers "a
stepped-care approach for problem gambling treatment, including telephone
counseling, outpatient, intensive outpatient and residential services,'' Canale
said. State-funded treatment is available for problem gamblers, she said.
The California Lottery is a partner of the Office of Problem Gambling
and provides funding for problem gambling prevention programs. The office does not use state general funds, instead drawing its funding from tribal gaming, card rooms and the lottery, Canale said.
