Two Huge Jackpots Fuel Lottery Mania
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Over the counter gambling is over the top in South Florida and across the country with two gigantic jackpots up for grabs.
Tuesday night a Mega Millions jackpot estimated at $361 million could be won. And Wednesday night a Powerball jackpot is valued at at least $440 million.
Gamblers compete for the winnings in 44 states.
"I've got the winner," said Julio Sanchez after he bought tickets at the Tropical Supermarket on Southwest 8th Street in Miami-Dade, one of the biggest lottery ticket retailers in South Florida. "I think I'm going to be the richest man in the world.
Angel Belereo said he needs the Mega Millions.
"I'm retired and right now I am a poor man," Belereo said, laughing.
Osvaldo Reyes was busy filling out tickets for both big jackpots at the Beacon Shell convenience store in Doral. And if he wins?
"I am going to have a good life without worrying about anything," Reyes said.
Israel Campos was buying tickets at the Sunshine Exxon down the street. He and a pal have agreed to a split if either wins.
"I'll give my friend half and I'll be happy. And then I'm going to buy me a big boat," Campos said.
This makes the first time since early August that both Mega Millions and Powerball have had jackpots over $300 million.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are one in 259 million and the Powerball jackpot is 292.2 million to one.
In the drawings Tuesday and Wednesday nights, jackpot winners, if there any, can take their chips in 30 annual payments or a single, before taxes lump sum. The Mega Millions lump sum is estimated at $215 million. The Powerball lump sum is estimated at $278.3 million.
You can watch the Mega Millions drawing Tuesday night and the Powerball drawing Wednesday night during the 11pm news on CBS4, your official lottery station.