Is Mega Millions coming to a convenience store near you?

N.C. Education Lottery officials said today that lottery groups nationally are considering the potential of all U.S. lottery jurisdictions selling both Mega Millions and Powerball tickets.

On Oct. 7, Mega Millions and the Multi-State Lottery Association agreed in principle to begin the process for implementation as early as 2010, and to work toward the development of a national lottery game, with a possible launch date of fall 2010.

Players would be able to play for big jackpots more days of the week if the deal is done. Powerball drawings are held on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Mega Millions drawings are held on Tuesday and Friday nights.

The state lottery first joined Powerball in 2006 and has sold $793 million in Powerball tickets. North Carolina has had two Powerball jackpot winners.

North Carolina lottery director Tom Shaheen has been elected president of the multi-state association that runs the Powerball.

The Multi-State Lottery Association includes 32 lotteries. Shaheen will continue to run the North Carolina lottery. The multi state association establishes policies, oversees financial matters and approves new lotteries for membership.

Dome checked and is sure that Shaheen can't help anyone get an inside line on Powerball numbers.  

Before coming to North Carolina, Shaheen was the chief executive officer for the New Mexico Lottery Authority for over five years, and prior to that he was the executive vice president of operations and administration for the Georgia Lottery Corporation.