New Multi-State Lottery Makes Debut In Oklahoma

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A new lottery made its debut in the Sooner State Tuesday night. Mega Millions has doubled your chances of hitting a multi-million dollar jackpot.

The Oklahoma Lottery Commission hopes the new game will add Mega Millions to state schools.

In one midtown Tulsa QuikTrip, it seems everybody's a winner.

"I just won 14 bucks off a dollar ticket, so not bad," said Cody Hayes, a lottery player.

"I've won up to $180 on these babies," said Olivette Williams, a lottery player.

Mega Millions is a new multi-state lottery featuring a multi-million dollar jackpot. It's starting out smaller than the Powerball prize, but enough to get players to fork over the cash for a shot at the riches.

"I think it's a good idea. It's more money for our state," said Cody Hayes.

The Oklahoma Lottery Commission is hoping Mega Millions will jumpstart sales, although they won't predict the new game's impact. 

Whatever the sales, 35 percent will go towards education, adding to the $313 million raised by the lottery since it began in 2005. 

The commission says that money has paid for teachers, early childhood programs, college scholarships and new school facilities.

But some argue the lottery wasn't the jackpot for education it was promised to be, with schools still struggling to pay bills.

But this is a game of chance and it's one with pretty long odds. Only one out of every 175-million players will cash in on Mega Millions.

To be fair, that's slightly better odds than Powerball. That's one in every 195-million.