Despite 135 million-to-1 odds, a $1 ticket sometimes pays for itself by fueling the hopes of lottery risk-takers who dream of that kind of instant wealth, said Ed Story, who filled out a ticket form in Atlanta.

“I saw a guy walk in, and he didn’t even know how to play a ticket. He put down $50,” he said.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

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