- The nation's financial crisis is causing a dip in one of the optional jackpots offered in Wisconsin's Megabucks lottery game.
The lottery said Tuesday that the annuity option which has a jackpot paid in installments over 29 years will decline for the first time because of a weak bond market.
The lottery funds the annuity option by using ticket revenue to buy conservative, government-backed bonds.
That option had been projected to be worth $8.5 million last Saturday night, but by the time of the drawing, the bond market had changed.
The lottery now estimates the bonds it can buy will onlyn fund an annuity of $8.2 million for Wednesday night's drawing.
The lesser lump-sum cash option relies on ticket revenues and hasn't been affected.
Story By: Associated Press