Mega Millions rolls over to $304M

Here's your chance to get out of the rat race: Friday's Mega Millions jackpot has reached $304 million, only the seventh time the top prize has hit the $300 million mark, the New York Lottery said Wednesday.

Tuesday's drawing had a grand prize of $244 million, but no one picked the randomly selected numbers of 1, 14, 35, 50 and 53 and a Megaball of 43.

Lottery spokeswoman Carlyn Hapeman said a winner could take a lump-sum payment of $193.6 million instead of installments.

There were 24 second-prize winners of $250,000 for Tuesday's drawing, the lottery said, including three from Nassau County -- at Jericho Wines & Liquors at 503 N. Broadway in Jericho; Omni Fuel at 101 Hempstead Tpke. in Elmont; and Lakeville Stationery at 2036 Lakeville Rd. in New Hyde Park. None of the Nassau winners have stepped forward yet, lottery officials said.

The last time the Mega game, introduced in 2002, reached $300 million was in January. Two winners -- in Washington and Idaho -- split $380 million in the drawing on Jan. 4.

The Mega game is played in 41 states, Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands, Hapeman said.

The jackpot could grow larger than $304 million if sales are greater than projected, Hapeman said.

"I would imagine that with a $300 million jackpot, sales could spike a little," she said.

Tickets will be sold until 10:45 p.m. Friday, but Hapeman urged buyers not to wait.

"Lines have been known to grow quite long when the jackpot reaches such large numbers," she said.