DES MOINES, Iowa — Ticketholders aren't the only ones who benefit from a win like the one expected in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, estimated at $425 million so far. Stores known for selling winning tickets also see their business pick up as superstitious dreamers pour in, hoping luck will strike again.
The jackpot for Wednesday's drawing would fetch a single winner a lump-sum payment after taxes of about $244.7 million. While not close to the record $590.5 million Powerball jackpot won by a Florida woman in May, Multi-State Lottery Association executive director Chuch Strutt said if no winning combination for the major jackpot is drawn Wednesday, "we would be in world record territory" going into Saturday's drawing.
The world's highest lottery jackpot was a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot sold in March 2012.
For jackpots as big as Wednesday's Powerball pot, convenience stores, gas stations and newsstands throughout the 43 states and other places where the game is played are deluged by ticket requests — including many from those who only play for massive jackpots they see as life-changing.
In addition to the bonus money the lottery gives to stores that sell tickets that win big, the retailers receive media coverage that can last for days and — best of all — get a boost from becoming known as the place that sold a winning ticket.
When word got out that a southeast Pennsylvania 7-Eleven sold a $1 million Powerball ticket on Saturday, customers hoping to experience some luck of their own flocked to the store.
"The manager said people were pouring into her store wanting to buy lottery tickets," 7-Eleven spokeswoman Margaret Chabris said, referring to the store in Langhorne, Pa. "They were of course really excited that one of their customers had won."
At a Casey's General Store in Bondurant, Iowa, everyone knows it's the place where a $202.1 million Powerball jackpot ticket was sold to a local woman in September. Asked what types of questions the store gets when the jackpots get huge, assistant manager Debra Fetters said: "Does lightning strike twice here?"
When a winning ticket for a $241 million Powerball jackpot was sold in June 2012 at a Hy-Vee grocery store in Cedar Rapids, the store also got into the spirit. It held up a banner about the winners — 20 Quaker Oats plant workers — and a fake Styrofoam check was posted for others to see.
"I do have customers that they do come here specifically when the numbers get higher," said store manager Jason Busswitz. "For some individuals, it does create a little more excitement around the Powerball machine."
Sometimes that involvement from the store helps ignite interest to return, said Adriana Binns, director of marketing and communication for the New Mexico Lottery.
"When you get those stores where they've actually seen someone win, they're very enthusiastic about it. They know about the game, they have regular customers. A lot of it really does come down to great retailers that support the lottery, understand that there are winners on both sides."
Linda Hamlin, also of the New Mexico Lottery, noted the story of "Millionaire Mary" Torres of Albuquerque. After she sold a $1 million winning Powerball ticket to an Albuquerque man in May 2011, she became known as a good luck charm. Her customers followed her to another store a few miles away.
"It's hard to explain," Hamlin said of people who think such buying strategy gives them an edge. "It's illogical because this whole nature of good luck and how random it is. You never know when and where good fortunate is going to strike."
Luck may be random, but there are more winning lottery tickets for smaller $1 million and $2 million prizes since a major overhaul of the Powerball game in January 2012. An increase in ticket prices from $1 to $2 was aimed at building jackpots faster and generating more money.
Those smaller prizes still carry a big punch for their winners, and some people are willing to try any strategy to win them.
"Humans tend to be superstitious about things," said Strutt of the Multi-State Lottery Association. "We all have our ways to ensure our best luck. But every ticket has the exact same chance of winning."
There's a store in Oklahoma City that draws a lot of people when the jackpot get high they claim they are the second selling lottery retailer in the state. They have sold $1million powerball ticket but the person pick their numbers.
Hoping for some luck to rub off on people playing at these so called lucky stores is like saying since Taylor Swift has dated so many guys- there is a chance for any male now.
Its not the building- its the numbers.
You just have to be there when the RNG generates the next winning numbers!
It is all random .............
best wishes to all
If Whittaker, Edwards & McKenzie can pull it off, what does it say about everyone else?
PLAY and SEE.
In Los Angeles County, there's a place called Bluebird Liquor that always gets huge lines of people when jackpots get big. People wait sometimes hours to get their tickets because they believe this place is lucky. They have had at least 4 or more multi-million dollar jackpot winners.
You got that right dpoly1...I believe in being in the right place at the right time! When your number hits you, you'll be the lucky winner! It's a game of luck! Now getting Ron to believe that is impossible! Poor Granny getting drag thru the ringer for jumping out of line.
It's some what simpler for me since I pick my own numbers, I only have to pick the winning numbers regardless of where I buy them.
Whittaker brought a hundred tickets, that alone made him different than most other players.
Every ticket has two chances to win...slim and none.
Hey Rjoh! How is it going for you since you pick your own numbers? Have you won some? So quick picks, you don't have any use for? I try to play a combination of both! But not won anything on PB in a very, very long time! I really mean a long time! Not even the powerball number. So I'm just about to give up on playing now. But when the pot gets this high, I have to try again, but only 6 bucks is all I can afford now though. Good Luck to ya!!
Lol CLETU$, Mine has been the none part for an awful long time!!! Hoping to change that tonight! Dream last night I was given 27,202 dollars. I guess that don't mean much anyways. Luck plays a big part of winning anything! Good Luck to you! if that means anything to ya!!
Bought my winning tickets today .................
I picked my own numbers ........
I picked my own numbers for years and won very little money.Now I let the computer pick my numbers and guess what...I still win a very little money.
Yup!! the same here too!!
Yep, been there....they have several terminals, if you are only buying lottery the line is crazy, but if you purchase items AND lottery, much shorter wait, LOL.
That 7 time lottery winner was featured on the news today. He discouraged purchasing of QPs (even though majority of jackpot winners did so by buying QPs). Stick with same numbers all the time.
And of course, they ask people what they would do with the money if they won (that is getting so old given that we have had multiple high jackpots in the last 12 months).
I am just going to play some numbers I like along with some QPs and call it a day. If I win, yippee! If I don't, there is always the next drawing for either a higher jackpot or $40 million, which is fine by me. In whatever state I am, I am content.
If I win, I will revisit Kenya sooner rather than later to help with the rebuild of the international airport terminal (trust me, I will do my part!). Surprising that Obama is not concerned about that occurrence given that it his father's beloved home country. Tourism is going to take a hit for awhile and so are certain other businesses.
True RJOH- but only ONE ticket out of that bunch was the winner, although I seriously doubt that you suggesting we all buy100 tickets to see if your experiment works. All it takes is one ticket. Remember that lady called Gloria. ..One ticket RJOH.
As Yoda once said " Do or do not- there is no try"- Win the thing.
Luck or no luck, you have to be in it, to stand any chance of winning it. I just bought 15 lines with powerplay, for $45.00 from one of those stores that sell jackpot winners.
Next we'll probaby hear stories of people kissing the lottery terminals for good luck as it prints their tickets.
Eww...Gross......
LOL good one
Since I play my predictions, I've done as well as my predictions. No decent PB or MM wins yet but a 5of6 win for Ohio's Classic Lotto.
Buying a hundred tickets has nothing to do with me, I have never spent over $20 on any game for a single drawing unless I was buying tickets for a lottery pool. I was just pointing out what Whittaker did beyond what players normally do.
I bought my tickets at a store in a rough neighborhood when I left work yesterday. Then today the guys at work asked me to join their pool and since I do not want to be the guy that is left working while the rest are vacationing in Maui, Bali or Jamaica, I quickly joined them. Those tickets were bought at a gas station. I'll get one last one at a liquor store like Pedro Quezada and Patricia Chandler have done and won in 2013. Good luck all.
@ Maringoman,
I would have done the same, worth a few bucks to not be left out.
There is a store out in Middle Village that had a real big Jackpot winner too! They have those signs "We had a Winner!"
I always go there.
They have the best Doritos!
There's a 7-11 considered a lucky store where I used to live (Northfield NJ)
I'll be going there tomorrow, so If It rolls tonight, I will stop there for an xtra ticket.
I would'nt make a trip for that, but since I'll be there anyway I'll get a QP for sat.
Roll, Roll, Roll !
I was just about to ask if a 7-11 store was ever considered a lucky store. I think it will roll.
I purchased my tickets at a gas station, soon they will be known for a 425 million dollar winner, for years they will speak of the dark haired beauty who won it all. lol
lol lol
I am ready to win $425 millions.
I love me some Doritos
ThoughtThough ought Publix might like a chance at amother winner!
know exactly where you're talking about, i've been there before. with how small the store is, i can see why lines are so long. the parking doesn't help either considering how you have to park across the street in the weird parking structure.
Didn't get a single number.Hope it rolls!
winning powerball numbers.i know there are some jp winners.just how many are there??pay less win more
some are, there's one in oxnard who has had 3 jackpot winners, although i do not know how long ago it was
"..express yourself without profanity&childish name calling.."
How about you express yourself without the sniveling and the whining and the drama and telling people what to do, princess?
We have enough rules and regulations without you thinking you have the authority to start issuing them.
So mind your own business.
How close are u to the egg harbor winner haymaker?
Wow.it's amazing how no matter what one do to try to restore the peace,there will always be people that are just so prejudice mean spirited and hateful..i didnt know u owned this site but since I see u r a partner..i bow out gracefully on the drama..life is too short.i didnt join this forum/lottery website to be harassed stalked and cyber bullied..i see as i thought that the rules apply to certain people which even apply in the lottery forum world..but this is my last comment back to anyone that is searching for drama&thrive on starting a cyber fight.im not leaving the website unless u take my account down.. but i do refuse to continue to have unhealthy dialogue with a hateful person..God bless and have mercy on you..Peace:)
Blah, blah, blah...
Shouldn't you be watching Oprah or something?
Or making up rules for your imaginary employees?
The winner Is in Little Egg Harbor,
It's about 20 miles north, next county up.
I know someone up there, he said "If I ever win I'm gonna say It's the 1st ticket I ever bought"
"just to piss every one off"
He's been playing for 40 years.