Mega Millions Jackpot Approaches $ 1 billion for Friday's drawing

Majdoub Rhouziyal has been a busy man.

Standing behind the counter at the Boston News Cafe Express, wearing a Red Sox hat and jacket, he dutifully rank up orders for Mega Millions tickets Thursday morning, one day before the drawing for the second-largest jackpot in US lottery history.

Rhouziyal, 50, said business, he said, and he expects to see more pledges to the Mega Millions jackpot, which increased to a record-high $ 970 million Thursday.

Rhouziyal pressed the buttons on a touch screen. Beep. Beep. Beep. The lottery terminal spit out a white slip of paper, which he handed to the customer. He did this over and over again, and said he hopes someone from Boston wins.

The sales for all the Mega Millions tickets in Massachusetts for Friday 's totaled $ 2.5 million as of noon Thursday. About $ 640,000 Christian Teja, spokesman for the Massachusetts State Lottery.

Friday night, Teja said.

"The most sales are always on the drawing board," he said.

Paul Daponte, 33, stopped by Boston News Cafe Express and plunked down $ 10 for five quick pick tickets. A baker by trade, he had just made a delivery when he stopped in the Mega Millions.

"You gotta play to win, right?" He said.

If he ends up winning the jackpot, Daponte said he'd buy a condo in Boston – maybe a place at Millennium Tower – then he'd take a vacation and start his own business in the restaurant industry.

"Most importantly I would give back to the community," said Daponte, who grew up in Fall River. "Because I come from hardship, and I'd find ways to invest back into some nonprofits."

John Clancy, 53, of Weymouth, walked in and bought six Mega Millions tickets for himself and his boss (a.k.a his wife). Three for him, and three for her.

"If I win, she wins. If she wins, she wins, "he said, with a laugh.

Clancy said if he won, he'd like to share the wealth with the help of veterans and other causes.

Clancy motioned to Rhouziyal, who was still behind the counter, selling a line of customers. "I told him, I'd buy it in the Caribbean," said Clancy.

"Somebody's gotta win, so you never know."

Over at Sulgrave Newsstand on Milk Street, Jan. Hingston, 72, of Charlestown, waited in line to buy her ticket. When it was her turn, she asked for a quick pick. She did not have any special numbers to play.

What would she do if she won?

"I would help my family, and I would give to charities, and help women's causes …. and then I'd go shopping," she said.

Monica Thomas, 43, of Quincy, stepped up to the counter to buy her lucky to become a millionaire many times over. like

"I'd want to help my family," she said. "Buy a house. Help my church. "

The sales record for a single drawing in Massachusetts is about $ 32.971 million, which was $ 1.586 trillion Powerball jackpot drawing on Jan. 13, 2016 – the largest jackpot lottery ever in the United States.

The Jackpot Powerball for Saturday's drawing is an estimated $ 430 million. A ticket bought in Massachusetts for Wednesday's Powerball drawing that won the $ 1 million prize. One ticket sold in Florida won the $ 2 million prize, officials said.

The jackpot for Saturday's in-state Megabucks Double drawing is an estimated $ 3.5 million, officials said.

Tickets for the Mega Millions and the Powerball are $ 2 each, and the Megabucks Doubler are $ 1 each.

The results for all the drawings can be found on masslottery.com, Lottery's Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages, officials said.

Emily Sweeney can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney. Andres Picon can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @andpicon.