At Gold Mart, a small convenience store near the Rhode Island border, dreams cost exactly $1
When no one came up with Saturdays winning Powerball ticket, an already sweet pot got a whole lot sweeter. Before the low-stakes gambling public knew what hit them, $177 million was at stake for tonights drawing.
Until 9 p.m., Powerball veterans and fortune hunters from as far away as Boston will descend on convenience stores like Gold Mart, buying one, two, even 40 chances to hit it big.
Gold Mart manager P.J. Patel isnt complaining -- on Monday a single customer spent $300 to improve his Powerball prospects.
By late Tuesday afternoon, a steady stream of low-rollers, mostly from Attleboro, found its way to Gold Marts lottery register -- convenience store gamblers all, but no two alike.
Some folks play Powerball as a part of their weekly routine; some are in it for that one big jackpot; most fall somewhere in between.
Tracey Rounds of Attleboro bought five numbers.
"I dont buy these on a regular basis," she said, "only when the amount gets up there. I figure you cant win if you dont play."
Jeff Monty of Attleboro is a Powerball player of a different breed. Monty said he buys tickets seven or eight times a week. On Monday he bought $40 worth. On Tuesday he spent another $15.
Despite varying levels of dedication and investment, all Powerball players have one thing in common: a willingness to plunk down a few dollars for an excuse to daydream about a life unfettered by work and cash-related worry.
"I think I would pay all of my power bills, buy a house and donate a bunch of money to charity," Rounds said of her post-win plans.
Montys answer was short and sweet, but no less considered.
"Id quit my job," he said.
Patels fortunes are more certain than his customers. Tuesday was good, but Wednesday will be even better, he said.
With $177 million waiting in the wings, Patel didnt mind stating the obvious: "Everybody wants money, man," he said.
The big jump will come tonight if there is no jackpot winner, I wouldn't be surprised if it jumped $30M plus. A couple of more roll overs and they'll start adding to the second prize amount.
In a Lotto South Test that I'm participating in another thread in the Lottery Discussion Forum, I've matched 4 twice and matched 3 several times in four trys with 100 random picks. The other two participant's used their systems to come up with 100 picks each and have only matched 3 three times between them in the same period. I've been so impressed with those results that I may use the same RNG to pick another 100 lines for PowerBall and travel to Indiana to play them this weekend if there are no jackpot winner tonight. If I only matched 4, it would be like get 100 chances at over $200M for free and even if I don't win much and I played every bonus ball twice, it would cost $94 or less for those 100 chances. It would be a gamble, but if the jackpot rolls over to over $200M, it'll be a good time to gamble.
I'm a little surprised that the dollar amount didnt jump again based on sales before the draw....they must not be selling as much as they think!
The big jump will come tonight if there is no jackpot winner, I wouldn't be surprised if it jumped $30M plus. A couple of more roll overs and they'll start adding to the second prize amount.
RJOh
the jackpot can only increase by a max of $25mill per roll over. Thats why it doesn't increase like MM.
well, i went and got my 2 dollars worth of tickets.
i even picked my own numbers,what's the odds, i wonder?l
urbossmanpimpin,
For the $25M limit to kick in and they start adding to the 2nd prize level, the jackpot has to reach a record level first and it's not there yet.
RJOh
well i got 27 on it. . . . .
dude. 27? i hope you have enough money to afford that, and food, bills, etc. you don't want to go over-budget on a big jackpot.
the only reason I
YES YES YES the dreams of w
In a Lotto South Test that I'm participating in another thread in the Lottery Discussion Forum, I've matched 4 twice and matched 3 several times in four trys with 100 random picks. The other two participant's used their systems to come up with 100 picks each and have only matched 3 three times between them in the same period. I've been so impressed with those results that I may use the same RNG to pick another 100 lines for PowerBall and travel to Indiana to play them this weekend if there are no jackpot winner tonight. If I only matched 4, it would be like get 100 chances at over $200M for free and even if I don't win much and I played every bonus ball twice, it would cost $94 or less for those 100 chances. It would be a gamble, but if the jackpot rolls over to over $200M, it'll be a good time to gamble.
RJOh