Friday night's Mega Millions lottery has attracted nationwide excitement because of its massive $222 million jackpot.
Tickets are sold in Virginia, but not in many neighboring states.
"We are seeing a lot of Mega Millions players from North Carolina and Tennessee coming into Virginia to play," said Virginia Lottery Executive Director Penelope W. Kyle on the Virginia Lottery official Web site.
All profits from Mega Millions tickets sold in Virginia go to public school education. In the 2003 fiscal year, the Virginia Lottery raised more than $375 million for public schools.
The purchasing deadline for the New York City drawing is 10:45 p.m. Friday night.