Ticket sales are brisk in Nebraska and nationwide as it's estimated the jackpot for tonight's (FRIDAY) drawing in the Mega Millions lottery will reach an all-time record of 540-million dollars. Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer (NEW-bau-er) says it's not only the biggest jackpot in the game's history, it will be the largest prize ever offered in a North American lotto game.  (play audio  :21) 
There are drawings twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays) for the Mega Millions game, which is played in Nebraska, 40 other states and the District of Columbia. That means the game has had 18 drawings in a row with no grand prize winner. Neubauer says the odds point to a winner tonight.  (play audio  :19)
The estimated prize is 540-million dollars for the annuity option over 25 years, or the cash option of 389-million. Even with the cash option, that's enough to give a dollar to every person in the United States and Canada and still have some 40-million bucks left. The going rate for a flight on a Russian rocket to the International Space Station is a mere 35-million -- so you could make that trip ten times. When a jackpot reaches this monumental level, many people will team up with co-workers and buy batches of tickets in a pool. Neubauer has a word of caution for those players.  (play audio   :22)
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are about one-in-176-million. The drawing is at 10 PM/Central. Learn more at "www.nelottery.com".