As of noon Friday, the Minnesota State Lottery reported that sales for Saturday’s Powerball jackpot were estimated at $9.9 million.
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“I’ll probably take care of my entire family”. Ticket sales on Thursday were double the previous record for that day, said Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas Lottery.
While winning $800 million would ultimately grant you and your loved ones financial security, it’s important not to spend money you can’t afford to lose (i.e.: groceries, rent, etc.) on lottery tickets. Realistically, you’re really, really, really unlikely to win.
Marquis’ explanation for the increase agreed with what Hinze had already witnessed: the big jackpot was drawing people who don’t normally buy tickets. Spend what you can comfortably afford to on lottery tickets and no more.
But many players also said they just like to win something, even if it’s not the big haul, Park said.
The lump sum in Saturday’s prize would be $496 million before federal taxes, the Multi-State Lottery Association said. So, they roll over what’s left over from the last jackpot, take a percentage of the expected sales for the next drawing and add in the interest rates that would be used for the securities used to fund the annuity.
“It’s given us a lot of new people to check out our store”, said Bragalone.
The state’s largest group win was a $107.5 million cash jackpot shared by 48 transit workers in Philadelphia in April of 2012.
“Everybody’s after them”, said one man as he darted out the door clutching a $10 ticket. And if your group is lucky, lottery officials recommend preventing hard feelings by putting in writing how you plan to split the prize, since it’s easy for misunderstandings to crop up when hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake.
“She enjoys playing. We’re putting $6 in the pot”, Hupp said.
Jerry Lambert buys tickets just about every week.
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Medenica and Ridenour think the jackpot will reach $1 billion if no one has a winning ticket after Saturday’s drawing.
