The Mega Millions jackpot soared to $400 million on Tuesday, its third largest ever, Today reported. Part of the reason large jackpots are becoming more common — three of the top four Mega Million payouts have come in the last three years — is that more states are participating. In 1996 only six states participated. Today Mega Millions is played in 43 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. $137 million worth of tickets are being sold every minute. State governments have benefited big time from the lotto's popularity, raking in more than $12 billion in profits that pay for state services.
