Mega Millions lottery mania

It’s another monster jackpot for the Mega Millions lottery drawing tonight. It hit $636 million today, just $20 million short of the U.S. record. The one-time cash payout would be $341.2 million.

You might just get lucky with a Quick Pick, or you might win with your own special numbers, but the odds don’t look so good either way. There are about 259 million number combinations possible.

If no one hits the jackpot either tonight or Friday night, the jackpot after that – on Christmas Eve – would be about a billion dollars!

The drawing takes place at 11 p.m. Eastern time. Tickets will be sold until 10:45.