(NECN/NBC News: Frances Kuo) - Excitement is building and so is the jackpot for Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing.
With no winner picked in Friday’s drawing, the jackpot has continued to grow.
It could set new records as people make a last-minute dash for tickets.
Lottery players are snapping up tickets in droves, all for the chance at the payoff of a lifetime.
One player said, "There's nothing like a dream, they say you got to be in it to win it and I'm in it."
The jackpot currently stands at $586 million, making it the second largest Mega Millions jackpot ever, and the fourth largest payout in history.
Experts say the odds of winning are about 1 in 259 million, but that hasn't stopped people from fantasizing about how they would spend their winnings.
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With the flurry of ticket sales, the jackpot total could go up before Tuesday night’s drawing.
One person said, "Just let the machine pick the numbers and go from there."
Picking the right numbers is really a combination of a lot of luck and some powerful wishful thinking.
One player said, "I've got one in a gazillion chances just like everybody else."
The cash payout for the lucky winner would be a whopping $316.5 million, which could make this a very merry Christmas for someone.
