Powerball sales brisk for tonight's $137 million drawing

Dec 24, 2003, 7:03 am (4 comments)

Powerball

Visions of money stacks are dancing in the heads of Powerball players who recall the $314 million Christmas Day jackpot won by a West Virginia man last year.

This year's holiday week drawing is on Christmas Eve and has fueled a spike in Powerball ticket purchases.

"I think people are out there spending their money left and right and there's always that little glimmer of hope that this will be a wonderful Christmas," said Mark Kempton, manager of Eddy's, a Council Bluffs gas station. "It would make a wonderful story, especially if your name is on the winning check."

Shoppers buying the $1 Powerball tickets as stocking stuffers or gifts also contribute to increased holiday sales, Powerball officials said.

"We're starting to see people making sure they are getting their ticket early," said Mary Neubauer, Iowa Lottery spokeswoman.

The jackpot for tonight's drawing stood at $137 million on Tuesday afternoon but could increase before the drawing if retailers see a jump in sales.

Neubauer said some ticket buyers are buying ahead for Saturday's Powerball drawing.

"They're getting tickets now because they know they'll be on the road or visiting family," she said.

The Christmas Day Powerball drawing last year resulted in a $314 million Christmas present for a 55-year-old West Virginia contractor Andrew "Jack" Whittaker Jr. The jackpot for the drawing stood at $280 million in the days before the drawing but jumped to $314 million by drawing time Christmas evening because of a huge surge in last-minute ticket buying.

The jackpot was the Multi-State Lottery Association's largest jackpot ever. Powerball is played in 24 states and Washington, D.C.

The chances of one ticket matching the five numbers plus the Powerball are more than one in 120 million.

AP

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weshar75's avatarweshar75

Santa's bringing the lottery magic to my house this Christmas eve tonight.  I'm going to sprinkle a little on my tickets for the big winner!!!!!!!!!!!

Zeno's avatarZeno

Let's see..... the odds of

weshar75's avatarweshar75

I think the sales of the powerball tickets will push the jackpot over the 140 million before the drawing tonight.  But I also think that it will roll over to at least 170 million for saturday. 

luckycat's avatarluckycat

does anyone know what time it goes off???

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