4.5 million Mega Millions tickets are bought by Michiganders

Regular lottery players and first-timers are flocking to Michigan markets and gas stations for a shot at a cool mega-billion.

Despite a 1 in 302.5 million chance at Friday's $1.1 billion jackpot, regional store owners and state lottery officials said Thursday that the huge prize is attracting a lot of new or infrequent customers ahead of the 11 p.m. drawing.

The jackpot has ballooned to the third largest in Mega Millions history — behind $1.5 billion prizes won in 2018 and 2016 — because nobody has matched the six selected numbers in the past 29 drawings. There has been no big winner since April 15.

"A billion dollars is something you can't even imagine," said Elaine Kitts, an 80-year-old Dearborn Heights resident who was purchasing tickets Thursday at a Dearborn party store. "... I'm not saying I'm feeling lucky; hopeful would be a very good word."

The Mega Millions jackpot also has jumped consistently over the last several days, said Jacob Harris, Michigan Lottery player relations manager. He said he would not be surprised if it jumped again Friday based on ticket sales around the country.

The billion dollars is prompting a stampede of buyers.