LANSING, February 20, 2004 – The Michigan Lottery announced today that tonight’s $222 million Mega Millions drawing will be broadcast LIVE from Times Square in New York City, and Mega Millions drawings will continue to originate from Times Square until the Mega Millions jackpot is won.

“The excitement for tonight’s drawing is building all across the state,” Gary Peters, Lottery Commissioner, said.  “Lottery players all over Michigan are dreaming about what they would do if they became an instant multi-millionaire, and I hope that dream becomes reality for one or more of them tonight!”

Mega Millions drawings normally run 45 seconds in length, but will be extended to 60 seconds for the special drawing(s) being held in Times Square, and it will be aired live on cable superstation WGN out of Chicago as well as a network of Michigan stations (check local listings).

Mega Millions drawings – held every Tuesday and Friday evening at 11:00 p.m. – are regularly conducted in Atlanta, Georgia.  Once the jackpot is won, Mega Millions drawings will return to the regularly scheduled length of time and location.

Mega Millions features nine different prize levels, ranging from $2 all the way up to the jackpot. In the most recent drawing, more than 1.3 million tickets won prizes, including 27 tickets that each won Mega Millions’ second highest prize of $175,000.  Two of those 27 tickets were sold in Michigan!  Players can win even if they just match one number – the Mega Ball number.

Mega Millions tickets are available in Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Washington.  For more information, you can also visit the Mega Millions Web site at: www.megamillions.com.

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