Mega Millions jackpot $230 million

NEW YORK, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Heavy ticket sales prompted the Mega Millions lottery to sweeten the grand prize by another $8 million Friday, bringing the top prize to $230 million.

A possible winner may be watching the drawing to be held live from Times Square in New York, lottery officials said.

Ticket sales were reported at $148,000 an hour in Ohio and were heavy in Michigan and nine other states where the game is played.

"The excitement for tonight's drawing is building all across the state," said Michigan Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters.

The odds of matching all five white balls and the Gold Mega Ball are about 1 in 135 million.

A single winner could opt for $136.2 million in cash before taxes, or take $8.8 million pre-tax for 26 years.

If there's a 15th rollover the jackpot will top $290 million, short of the $331 million Mega Millions grand prize won in April 2002.

The largest North American lottery jackpot ever was a $363 million Big Game prize shared by two players in Michigan and Illinois May 9, 2000.