Chance at $1 billion Illinois jackpot literally up for grabs
CHICAGO (CBS) – Jackpot hopefuls were lined up for hours to play a special game for an extra shot at $1 billion.
CBS 2's Lauren Victory visited a lottery dealer on the Southwest Side called the Lucky Mart on 87th Street, and found out it lives up to its name.
It's one of the winningest lottery ticket-selling stores in Illinois. On Monday, people walked away with extra tickets if they were extra lucky.
Somehow, Illinois Lottery doesn't have a name for the machine. But the object of the game is to grab as many free Powerball tickets as possible while they blow around like a hurricane.
Victory: "What was your strategy?"
"Well, I just gotta reach, get it," said Charlie Tomlinson. "I've been thinking about it while I was standing in line."
Players had only three seconds to snatch as many as they could: tickets that could be worth $1 billion, mixed in with play money worth nothing.
"No strategy at all," said player Sean Kenney. "I'm just excited. If I win $100 today, I'll be happy."
Some people walked away with one ticket, others as many as 14 like Joshua Herron. He wasn't messing around and already has a plan hatched for when he wins the jackpot.
"I need me a McLaren 782 L2 Spyder and I got the tickets right here to go get it," Herron said. "So when I get it, I'm going to Mexico. Peace out baby!"
A basic Powerball ticket retails for $2, with 25% of that cost helping fund Illinois schools.
Illinois benefits even more if the jackpot ticket is sold at an Illinois store. If an Illinois Lottery retailer sells the $1 billion winning Powerball ticket, the retailer will get a $500,000 cash bonus for selling the winning ticket. Retailers get 1% of the prize value of every winning ticket, which is capped at $500,000. Plus, the taxes from the $1 billion winnings would go back to the state.
The next Powerball drawing was scheduled for Monday night, with the second-highest jackpot ever up for grabs.