After no winners claimed the jackpot on Tuesday night, the Mega Millions lottery has increased in size once again to $1.35 billion (£1.1 billion).
It comes only months after a record-breaking Powerball jackpot of $2.04 billion was won in California, making it the second-highest in US history.
The odds of winning have decreased as a result of lottery commissions and multi-state games, which enhance the likelihood that rewards will roll over and grow in value.
People are unable to distinguish between odds of winning of one in four million, one in forty million, or one in 400 million.
Mega Millions spokeswoman Danielle Frizzi-Bab claims that the "current game matrix" for winning started using in 2017.
The media craze that can result from a sizable, increasing prize helps to some extent explain why Americans are so passionate about playing the lottery.