$830 million Mega Millions jackpot entices Oklahomans to try their luck

Tuesday's Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at $830 million and a lot more Oklahomans are taking a chance on winning some serious cash, according to the Oklahoma Lottery Commission.

"We are definitely seeing an uptick in sales. It's been quite popular for several weeks now, but when it gets this high, it definitely starts to go up quite a bit," said Abby Morgan, director of marketing and product development.

Morgan said the states participating in the Mega Millions drawings all come together in funding the prize payouts. If a singular person has the six matching numbers, they take the prize.

"There is a chance that more than one person could have the winning numbers, that's happened quite a bit in the past," she said. "Especially when the jackpot gets this high and sales are so large."

Oklahoma has almost 2,000 retailers for lottery tickets, including several with self-service kiosks, Morgan said. With multiple winners the jackpot is shared and each person has the choice between an annuitized payout or a singular lump sum payment.

The estimated lump sum payout for Tuesday's drawing is $487.9 million, according to the Mega Millions website. The annuitized option is "paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments. Each payment is 5% bigger than the previous one."

At a Domino Convenience store in Shawnee, several people came in to purchase tickets from the kiosk and over-the-counter from clerks and they had varying ideas of how to use the cash prize.

One woman, a teacher, who asked not to be named, said she'd pay off her bills and "then maybe go on a cruise." She also said she'd be just fine with being one of several winners with the prize as large as it is.

Another ticket buyer, who asked not to be named, said he would “disappear,” if he won.

“I mean, you’d have friends and family coming out of the woodwork, so that’s what I would do,” he said.

Meanwhile for Paula Robbins, the prospect of winning means a chance to give back in a way she can't currently, mentioning helping both animals and people alike in her community.

“I would help all of the people around here," she said. "I would love to put in a homeless shelter; we need a good one."

Tickets for Tuesday's drawing can be purchased until 8:59 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Mega Millions $830 million jackpot sends Oklahomans on ticket spree