Locals try their luck with huge Mega Millions jackpot

March 26, 2012|By Kelli Stopczynski | WSBT TV Reporter

What would you do with $363 million? That's the current jackpot for tomorrow's Mega Millions drawing and it could go even higher.

Cashiers at several local gas stations told WSBT Mondays are typically pretty slow when it comes to lotto ticket sales. But we found plenty of people ready to take a chance.

Alex Stanton says he almost never plays the Mega Millions or the Power Ball.

“I figure for that much money, I could take a chance,” he said. “I normally just play little scratch-offs, little dollar tickets [and] figure I'll at least win my money back.”

The most he’s ever won is $400 on a $2 scratch-off ticket.

“That was the highlight of my lotto days,” he chuckled.

Rick Barrett, on the other hand, said he plays the big games every time.

“I spend four dollars either on the Mega Million, the Power Ball or a combination but I never go over $4," he said.

Whether they get four or forty dollars in tickets, as more people buy in the jackpot grows. When we began working on our story at 10 a.m. Monday, it was $356 million. By noon it jumped to $363 million.

But what would people do with that much money or even a chunk of it if they won?

“Help a lot of people, help my mom out,” Stanton said.

“We’re like to get a new house and things like that,” Barrett added. “But I've also got grandkids that could be covered for college.”

“I would invest a whole bunch of money in my business, give a whole bunch to charity and donate a whole bunch to Ron Paul and the Libertarian party,” said Michael Mathieu.

Cashiers expect ticket sales to pick up between 7 and 10 p.m. Monday night. If you wait until tomorrow to buy yours, you might have to face longer lines and slower computers as more people buy their tickets.

The Mega Millions drawing is Tuesday night at 11 Eastern Time. You can buy tickets until 10:45.

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