The largest Powerball jackpot in history has more than a few people dreaming of what they would do with $700 million.
“I would move. Move to a warmer climate,” said Jeannine R. of Orland Park.
Jeannine, who did not want to share her last name, was on a break from work in Palos Heights when she stopped at the 7-Eleven at College Drive and Harlem Avenue and dropped $20 on the chance to dream.
“I don’t usually play, but with the big winnings I just felt like I had to. And three of the other girls I work with are going in on it, too,” she said.
She isn’t alone. With a rollover from Wednesday’s drawing, which had no winner of its $500 million jackpot, Saturday’s drawing will be the largest in U.S. history, said Steve Rossi, communications director of the Illinois Lottery.
“This is unprecedented and the largest jackpot in history,” Rossi said. “And it may also go up again before Saturday depending on the ticket sales.”
The lucky winner who beats the 1-in-292.2-million odds could claim $428.4 million in cash. The overall odds of winning a prize in the entire Powerball game are 1-in-24.9, Rossi said.
The previous largest Powerball prize was $564.1 million, won in February and shared by players from North Carolina, Texas and Puerto Rico.
Illinois is one of 47 lotteries in that participate in Powerball and its sales.
“And they are coming in fast and furious. Everywhere I went this morning, the bank, the coffee shop, I overheard everyone talking about Powerball,” Rossi said.
Tracey Dubinskas, the assistant manager at the 7-Eleven in Palos Heights, sold $3,500 in Powerball tickets Wednesday alone. On an average day, the store usually sells $400 in lottery tickets. As of Thursday, she topped that average for Saturday’s drawing with the sale of $1,025 to just one customer.
“He spent 20 minutes here filling out cards, and I just kept running them through,” Dubinskas said. “I was shaking. I had never seen anything like that before.”
Dubinskas anticipates another crazy day Saturday, and the store has doubled its staff to handle the anticipated long lines for tickets.
While area retailers have seen the average person putting down $10 or $20 for the chance to win, others are putting in a bit more to increase their odds.
While he was out running an errand, Wally Alhuse of Tinley Park decided to stop at the Shell at 103rd Street and Harlem Avenue in Palos Hills and buy $100 worth of Powerball Quick Pick tickets.
Although he said he doesn’t believe he will win, Alhuse already has plans if he does.
“I’ll invest it, but I’ll leave a little bit to gamble with, too,” Alhuse said.
There are more than 8,000 lottery retailers statewide selling tickets for the big drawing. One of them, Murad Nassar, co-owner of Smokers Expo on 143rd Street in Homer Glen, said he has seen a significant increase in Powerball traffic through his store.
“I’ve seen my regular customers who don’t usually play, and they are playing this time, and new people coming into the store playing,” Nassar said. “There is definitely more interest.”
The increased volume is good for the store even if customers don’t purchase any other products, he said. Retailers who sell lottery tickets get a small commission on the sales, so an increase in volume also increases their profit.
And if that store sells the lucky ticket, there is also a windfall, but not as large as in years past. The lucky retailer who sells the winning ticket will receive a maximum payout of $500,000, Nassar said.
“It used to be 1 percent, which would mean the store would get millions. (A payout of) $500,000 is lot, but it would have been nice if it didn’t change for something this big,” Nassar said.
Brionna Carpenter of Gary, Ind., was driving on Interstate 80 when she stopped at the Shell station at 191st Avenue and LaGrange Road to purchase a ticket Thursday.
“I was driving, and it popped into my mind that I should stop and get some,” Carpenter said.
On the other hand, Dave Wachowiak of Palos Park left a local 7-Eleven with only scratch-off tickets. He wasn’t ready to pull the trigger on the highest Powerball, at least not just yet.
“I’m sure I’m going to play, but I am waiting for the right feeling,” he said. “That feeling when you are out and driving around, and then you pull over to just pick something up and you feel it. I’ll know when I feel it.”
Patricia Trebe is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
