Lotto fever heated up Friday in Southwest Florida and the rest of the state as people lined up to take their shot at instant millions.
Tonight's Florida Lottery drawing is estimated to be worth $64 million. The drawing is scheduled for 11 p.m.
This is the 14th largest Lotto jackpot in Florida history. If one winner beats the odds, that person could accept a pretax check of $36 million, or choose to take $2.1 million in each of the next 30 years. Lottery officials expect ticket sales to peak at $28,000 per minute.
Pat Wilcox of Fort Myers was at Publix in the South Trail Shopping Center at 3255 Cleveland Ave. on Friday afternoon. She already bought her $5 worth of tickets, and after years of playing, she hopes this will be the one that changes her life. Wilcox, 73, said she doesn't deviate from her personal $5 limit, no matter how big or small the pot is.
"If it's not a big jackpot, it's mix and match" with Fantasy 5, Wilcox said. "This week, it was all Lotto. All I need is that one ticket."
Convenience stores can see spikes in beverage, candy and snack sales when the demand for lottery tickets soars.
Store officials at Hess at Metro and Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress parkways said they're ready for the mad rush.
On Wednesday, the Mobil station at U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway did more than $1,000 worth of Lotto ticket sales the night the jackpot rolled over without a winner, store officials said.
Chuck Lindenmuth, who manages the Mobil on U.S. 41 and College Parkway in south Fort Myers, said sales are beginning to increase steadily heading into today.
"I think we'll see a lot of business with all the people traveling," Lindenmuth said. "People come in for coffee and say 'Anyone win the Lotto? Then they buy a ticket.'"
To avoid potential Lotto lines, retailers say it's best to get tickets as early as possible. Few customers were waiting for tickets at Publix stores and convenience stores Friday afternoon in south Fort Myers and Fort Myers.
The rest of the state is catching Lotto mania as well.
If Sandra Plumber of Miami wins the $64 million Florida Lotto jackpot Saturday, a trip around the world will be the first item she'll scratch off from her list of things to do before she dies.
"Because it's so expensive to do," she said Friday. "I had to put it at the bottom of my list."
Plumber, 49, a legal secretary for a law firm, had compiled her wish list on New Year's Day, which also includes skydiving, swimming with sharks, going on an African safari and even meeting Tom Cruise.
Plumber and other would-be millionaires with grand plans made a dash to lottery retailers across the state Friday with their favorite numbers in hand, while others based their choices on whatever numbers print out from Quick Pick.
Let's get a winner from the Sunshine State LP members :
Just XPloring
PacAttack
??
Thanks...I'm trying! In fact this article was from the News-Press which is our local paper.
"Plumber, 49, a legal secretary for a law firm, had compiled her wish list on New Year's Day, which also includes skydiving, swimming with sharks, going on an African safari and even meeting Tom Cruise."
BTW, I promise everyone here - if I win I will not use the money to meet Tom Cruise!!
A winner from FL would be ok but I'd rather it be one of our Lotterypost members!! Good luck to all in tonights drawing. $64 million would be a nice chuck of change and you would have a bout a year to figure out the taxes on the money.
BTW, I promise everyone here - if I win I will not use the money to meet Tom Cruise!! LOL justxploring
we just wouldn't want to lose you to Scientonlogy.
Let's get a winner from the Sunshine State LP members :
Just XPloring
PacAttack
??
Thanks...I'm trying! In fact this article was from the News-Press which is our local paper.
"Plumber, 49, a legal secretary for a law firm, had compiled her wish list on New Year's Day, which also includes skydiving, swimming with sharks, going on an African safari and even meeting Tom Cruise."
BTW, I promise everyone here - if I win I will not use the money to meet Tom Cruise!!
Thanks JXP ... I know your sights are set much higher.
Since the Today show/ Brooke Shields thing I have really come to despise this prima donna.
In addition to not having a game-wide cash option, this is what the new GA-KY-VA Lose for Life is lacking: the suspense that comes with a big jackpot. In fact Lose for Life DOES NOT have a true jackpot.
In addition to not having a game-wide cash option, this is what the new GA-KY-VA Lose for Life is lacking: the suspense that comes with a big jackpot. In fact Lose for Life DOES NOT have a true jackpot. CashOnly
I'm guessing you're not talking about the FL Lotto here, but I just don't see how winning $100,000 a year for the rest of your life would be "losing." If I got a call from a lawyer today notifying me that someone left me money in a trust that will payout $50,000 a year for the next 20 or 30 years I'd be ecstatic! I agree that there should always be a lump sum option, but money is money.
"To avoid potential Lotto lines, retailers say it's best to get tickets as early as possible."
What lines? This is hype to get people to come in and buy tickets. I suppose this article might be referring to border towns near Georgia and Alabama, but the source is the News-Press which is our local newspaper and we're about 400 miles southwest. After I read it I strolled down to 7-11 and there was only 1 person in front of me. It's one of the busiest stores in the area too. I don't like to buy tickets in crowded places. Psychologically I see all these people getting hundreds of tickets and then reality sinks in...why me? When someone in front of me says "give me 50 tickets for Lotto" it sort of makes my piddly 5 tickets look hopeless, although we all have an equal chance of winning. Well, that's not really true because the person who spends $100 has 99 more chances than somebody with just a buck in his pocket.
Times has really changed, years ago when ever Florida had a large jackpot I would read about people from New York, Cleveland and Chicago flying into Florida to buy thousands of tickets to redistribute in their local area. If someone's still doing it, it doesn't make the news anymore.
In addition to not having a game-wide cash option, this is what the new GA-KY-VA Lose for Life is lacking: the suspense that comes with a big jackpot. In fact Lose for Life DOES NOT have a true jackpot.
I do not live in Florida but I promise to move there and by a big ol mansion and drive around in a big ol fancy automobile just let me win. Thank goodness for betslips I was able to get my five quick picks :-)
Times has really changed, years ago when ever Florida had a large jackpot I would read about people from New York, Cleveland and Chicago flying into Florida to buy thousands of tickets to redistribute in their local area. If someone's still doing it, it doesn't make the news anymore.
If Mega has two more rolls or more it might be news stories about Floridians flying out to buy tickets. $67 million even for a state game just doesn't get the attention it once did.
Times has really changed, years ago when ever Florida had a large jackpot I would read about people from New York, Cleveland and Chicago flying into Florida to buy thousands of tickets to redistribute in their local area. If someone's still doing it, it doesn't make the news anymore.
If Mega has two more rolls or more it might be news stories about Floridians flying out to buy tickets. $67 million even for a state game just doesn't get the attention it once did.
Most Floridians probably will just drive up to Georgia. Georgia will probably have players from the Carolinas, Tennessee and Alabama too. Georgia is like Ohio, surrounded by states that don't have MegaMillions.
Let's get a winner from the Sunshine State LP members :
Just XPloring
PacAttack
??
well I had to buy my 30 dollars worth on bet slips and good luck to all lp members,hope one of us get it,no qp selected my own #
Let's get a winner from the Sunshine State LP members :
Just XPloring
PacAttack
??
Thanks...I'm trying! In fact this article was from the News-Press which is our local paper.
"Plumber, 49, a legal secretary for a law firm, had compiled her wish list on New Year's Day, which also includes skydiving, swimming with sharks, going on an African safari and even meeting Tom Cruise."
BTW, I promise everyone here - if I win I will not use the money to meet Tom Cruise!!
A winner from FL would be ok but I'd rather it be one of our Lotterypost members!! Good luck to all in tonights drawing. $64 million would be a nice chuck of change and you would have a bout a year to figure out the taxes on the money.
BTW, I promise everyone here - if I win I will not use the money to meet Tom Cruise!! LOL justxploring
we just wouldn't want to lose you to Scientonlogy.
Let's get a winner from the Sunshine State LP members :
Just XPloring
PacAttack
??
Thanks...I'm trying! In fact this article was from the News-Press which is our local paper.
"Plumber, 49, a legal secretary for a law firm, had compiled her wish list on New Year's Day, which also includes skydiving, swimming with sharks, going on an African safari and even meeting Tom Cruise."
BTW, I promise everyone here - if I win I will not use the money to meet Tom Cruise!!
Thanks JXP ... I know your sights are set much higher.
Since the Today show/ Brooke Shields thing I have really come to despise this prima donna.
DD
In addition to not having a game-wide cash option, this is what the new GA-KY-VA Lose for Life is lacking: the suspense that comes with a big jackpot. In fact Lose for Life DOES NOT have a true jackpot.
In addition to not having a game-wide cash option, this is what the new GA-KY-VA Lose for Life is lacking: the suspense that comes with a big jackpot. In fact Lose for Life DOES NOT have a true jackpot. CashOnly
I'm guessing you're not talking about the FL Lotto here, but I just don't see how winning $100,000 a year for the rest of your life would be "losing." If I got a call from a lawyer today notifying me that someone left me money in a trust that will payout $50,000 a year for the next 20 or 30 years I'd be ecstatic! I agree that there should always be a lump sum option, but money is money.
"To avoid potential Lotto lines, retailers say it's best to get tickets as early as possible."
What lines? This is hype to get people to come in and buy tickets. I suppose this article might be referring to border towns near Georgia and Alabama, but the source is the News-Press which is our local newspaper and we're about 400 miles southwest. After I read it I strolled down to 7-11 and there was only 1 person in front of me. It's one of the busiest stores in the area too. I don't like to buy tickets in crowded places. Psychologically I see all these people getting hundreds of tickets and then reality sinks in...why me? When someone in front of me says "give me 50 tickets for Lotto" it sort of makes my piddly 5 tickets look hopeless, although we all have an equal chance of winning. Well, that's not really true because the person who spends $100 has 99 more chances than somebody with just a buck in his pocket.
Goood luck to FL players wish i had a ticket.
Times has really changed, years ago when ever Florida had a large jackpot I would read about people from New York, Cleveland and Chicago flying into Florida to buy thousands of tickets to redistribute in their local area. If someone's still doing it, it doesn't make the news anymore.
In addition to not having a game-wide cash option, this is what the new GA-KY-VA Lose for Life is lacking: the suspense that comes with a big jackpot. In fact Lose for Life DOES NOT have a true jackpot.
What does this have to do with Florida Lotto?
I do not live in Florida but I promise to move there and by a big ol mansion and drive around in a big ol fancy automobile just let me win.
Thank goodness for betslips I was able to get my five quick picks :-)
good luck folks
Times has really changed, years ago when ever Florida had a large jackpot I would read about people from New York, Cleveland and Chicago flying into Florida to buy thousands of tickets to redistribute in their local area. If someone's still doing it, it doesn't make the news anymore.
If Mega has two more rolls or more it might be news stories about Floridians flying out to buy tickets. $67 million even for a state game just doesn't get the attention it once did.
"$67 million even for a state game just doesn't get the attention it once did."
I agree. Diva. Tells you something about the world we live in.
Times has really changed, years ago when ever Florida had a large jackpot I would read about people from New York, Cleveland and Chicago flying into Florida to buy thousands of tickets to redistribute in their local area. If someone's still doing it, it doesn't make the news anymore.
If Mega has two more rolls or more it might be news stories about Floridians flying out to buy tickets. $67 million even for a state game just doesn't get the attention it once did.
Most Floridians probably will just drive up to Georgia. Georgia will probably have players from the Carolinas, Tennessee and Alabama too. Georgia is like Ohio, surrounded by states that don't have MegaMillions.