Starting Saturday, Nebraska Lottery players will be able to play Mega Millions, a multi-state jackpot game currently offered by 36 lotteries across the United States.

Nebraska Lottery officials are in the panhandle this week to help kick off the new multi-state game. Residents are getting information on how to play Mega Millions and are playing "Spin and Win" to receive prizes being offered by the Nebraska Lottery.

Lottery spokesman Tom Johnson said the addition of Mega Millions just adds another option for players to win a multi-state lottery.

The addition of the Mega Millions game in Nebraska was made possible by an October 2009 decision of the members of the Multi-state Lottery Association (MUSL), which operates the Powerball® game, and Mega Millions member lotteries to begin a cross-selling arrangement. A hearing was held in Lincoln on January 5 to receive public comment on the proposed regulations concerning Powerball and the addition of Mega Millions in Nebraska.

Powerball and Mega Millions both feature large jackpot prizes, but in the past the games have been sold in separate jurisdictions. The Nebraska Lottery has offered Powerball since July of 1994. Since then, the Nebraska Lottery has sold more than $483 million worth of Powerball tickets for Wednesday and Saturday drawings, accounting for 35 percent of total Nebraska Lottery sales of more than $1.39 billion (as of fiscal year-end on June 30, 2009).

Mega Millions tickets are scheduled to go on sale at Nebraska Lottery retailers across the state on Saturday, March 20. The first Mega Millions drawing to include Nebraska tickets will be held on Tuesday, March 23. “There are many details yet to be decided, but we are excited to add Mega Millions to our product lineup,” said Jim Haynes, Nebraska Lottery Director. “Our research shows that jackpot size is a factor when players purchase lotto tickets, and we feel our customers will appreciate having two more chances a week to win a jackpot prize by offering both Powerball and Mega Millions.” Powerball-selling states bordering Nebraska are also planning to add Mega Millions in the coming months.

Mega Millions holds the record for the largest recorded U.S. jackpot - $390 million on March 6, 2007. The largest recorded Powerball jackpot won on a single ticket was sold in Nebraska on February 18, 2006, when a group of eight coworkers at the ConAgra Foods ham and corned beef plant in Lincoln split a $365 million jackpot prize.

Powerball and Mega Millions both feature large jackpot prizes, but in the past the games have been sold in separate jurisdictions. The Nebraska Lottery has offered Powerball since July of 1994.

Mega Millions tickets are scheduled to go on sale at Nebraska Lottery retailers across the state on Saturday, March 20. The first Mega Millions drawing to include Nebraska tickets will be held on Tuesday, March 23.

Lottery officials will be in Scottsbluff Friday from 9 to noon at the Sinclair Super Shop and the Express Mart from 1 to 4 pm. They will also be at the Home, Garden and Recreation show this weekend at the Scotts Bluff County event center at the fairgrounds in Mitchell.