Lotto vote

The powerball and megamillions both being sold in tennessee could be months away. The vote happened Monday now they just have to prepare the machines next year. North Carolina thinks they will be ready by January 31st so maybe Tennessee can beat them by a week.

"On Monday, Nov. 2, the Tennessee Education Lottery Board of Directors today unanimously voted to offer a second mega-jackpot game in Tennessee, which is expected to bring an additional $10 to $15 million annually to education programs in the state.
“Bringing Mega Millions into our portfolio of games is a win for both players and education,” said Rebecca Hargrove, President and CEO of the Tennessee Lottery. “It’s clear that large jackpots generate excitement in Tennessee. Adding Mega Millions will mean more sales and additional dollars for the education programs we fund.”
The decision to allow states the option of offering both Powerball and Mega Millions has been prohibited until a recent agreement was reached in a joint meeting of all U.S. lottery jurisdictions. Although additional details must be finalized, Tennessee Lottery fans can expect to begin playing Mega Millions in early 2010.
“It’s clear that a large percentage of our players support a mega-jackpot game, and I’m optimistic about the success of adding another such game,” said Hargrove, who is Chair of the Powerball Group and has been a longtime and leading proponent of cross-selling both games.
Mega Millions is currently played in 12 states with a combined population of 160 million. Powerball is currently available in 33 jurisdictions (31 states plus the District of Columbia and Virgin Islands) with a combined population of 125 million. The current Mega Millions jackpot is $50 million; the current Powerball jackpot is $66 million."