State To Add Mega Millions to Lottery Lineup

The state lottery board voted unanimously today to bring a second lottery to Tennessee. The state will now add Mega Millions to its lineup of games, which already included the similar Powerball.

Until last month a state could have Powerball or Mega Millions, but it couldn’t have both.

Tennessee Lottery President Rebecca Hargrove says the move will boost lottery sales overall. That’s because it’s expected to attract casual players who are after big jackpots. Hargrove says with two games they’ll have the chance to play for bigger paydays more often.

“Because if it’s not there in Powerball it’ll be there in Mega Millions, and it’ll even up those huge jackpot spikes, make it a little more even and therefore revenue more consistent to the education programs we fund.”

Hargrove says that means an additional $10 to $15 million a year going toward education in the state. Last year the lottery raised about $280 million for education programs.

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Mega Millions tickets should be available in the state by spring of next year.