While crowds fill Times Square to watch the ball drop tonight, Bobby Santamauro of West Haven, Connecticut will have his eye on a different ball -- a little red one with someones lucky number on it.
The Powerball jackpot has soared into the stratosphere again, bringing the expected stream of would-be millionaires to gas stations, convenience stores and supermarkets for a chance at abundant riches.
For 38-year-old Santamauro, its enough to conjure up visions of souped-up sports cars and a paid-in-full stamp on his fathers business mortgage.
"See that number up there, $210 million? Thats when I play," said Santamauro, who bought two tickets Tuesday morning at his fathers gas station, Bens Exxon Service in Orange.
"I cant be bothered with $25 million. I cant be bothered with $40 million. Its got to be a high number," Santamauro said.
This is the second time this year the Powerball jackpot has crossed the $200 million mark.
The $210 million bundle is the fifth-largest Powerball jackpot ever and currently the largest lottery jackpot in the world, according to the Powerball Web site.
The latest jackpot run started Nov. 8, making Saturdays drawing the 15th in a row without a jackpot winner. Tonights drawing is at 10:59.
While there were few signs Tuesday of long lines and the New York border-crossers famous during record jackpots, Exxon owner Ben Santamauro said, a steady stream of Powerball players have bought tickets in his store.
Some have snatched up 50 or more at once for office pools.
Others have literally broken the piggy bank for a shot at the dream, paying with rolled up change or spare pennies.
"The only thing we havent seen yet is yen," he joked.
"Its amazing what theyre coming in here to buy these tickets with."
Store manager John Moore said he expected a bigger rush of ticket-buyers tonight when people get out of work.
"A lot of people get paid early because of the holidays and the drawing is (today)," he said.
Powerball is played in 24 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
To win the jackpot, players must match numbers on each of five white balls drawn, as well as the red Powerball pulled from a separate batch.
Odds of winning the grand prize are 1 in 120,526,770.
The winnings can either be taken in a lump sum or in smaller payments over a period of 29 years.
It could be possible that because of the MM jackpot being won that the powerball still has one more roll before it goes for the record!!!!!!!!!!