Posted on Tue, Nov. 27, 2012 11:06 PM
Powerball frenzy grows with $500 million jackpot
What are the chances? Slim, but that doesn’t keep local hopefuls from taking a shot at winning the lottery and living a dream.
The lottery staff at Riverside Red X, including Chris Hoggatt (left),
has been extra busy as the Powerball jackpot climbed to $500 million.
The mayor of Riverside, Kathy Rose, stopped by the Red X on Tuesday to
buy tickets for an office pool.
Kathy Rose knew she was in trouble when she woke up
at 3 a.m. Tuesday, fantasizing about the celebration that will ensue
when her office wins tonight’s $500 million Powerball jackpot.
There in her dream, clear as day, was a doctor leading a conga line of euphoric employees right out of the health clinic where they all work.
Then, of course, she woke up to reality.
Count Rose among the millions caught up in a Powerball frenzy that seemed to be growing by the minute. The ticket won’t be drawn until 9:59 tonight, but the lines had formed already Tuesday at places like the Riverside Red X, where smiling strangers chatted up one another while waiting.
Everyone was joking about their jackpot. Several, including Rose, were pooling their dollars to play in office pools. Few seemed worried about watering down their take by splitting the prize. Rose entered two office collections: She helped organize one at the health clinic and then threw a few dollars into a pool with employees of Riverside, where she is the mayor.
“My glass is always half-full,” Rose said. “I’m very optimistic and very positive.”
Chuck Strutt, executive director of the Multi-State Lottery Association, said there’s about a 60 percent chance a ticket will win today — maybe better if there’s a flurry of last-minute buyers picking unique numbers.
But back to reality.
The chances of winning are 1 in 175 million.
“You’re more likely to be killed in a car wreck going to buy the ticket,” said a half-joking Paul Johnson, associate director of the Center for Research Methods and Data Analysis at the University of Kansas.
Although the odds aren’t good, the extra dollars coming in don’t hurt city and state coffers. Half the proceeds go to the prize pool, and the rest goes to the 42 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands, where Powerball is played. That money typically goes into education and charitable efforts, in addition to paying for overhead and compensating winning stores.
Johnson, who has never bought a Powerball ticket, remains intrigued by the psychological aspects of it all.
“If you’re completely cold and logical about it, you know that your chance of winning is so small that it doesn’t justify the investment,” he said.
But he understands this isn’t about logic, reason or math.
“People are playing the lottery not because they expect to win the prize, but for the excitement or the feeling of expectation that they might win,” he said.
It gives co-workers, family and friends something to talk and dream about, he said. And don’t long odds make the best stories?
Many still relish the vision of eight Nebraska meatpacking plant employees claiming $365 million. It was the biggest Powerball jackpot until now.
“This is a great country!” one worker said at the time.
Sure, it’s a long shot, said Kansas Lottery spokeswoman Sally Lunsford, “but hey, it happens. It happened right here in Kansas.”
The Powerball jackpot is the largest in the game’s history, but it’s the second largest lottery prize. The biggest lottery jackpot was $656 million in Mega Millions, split by three winning tickets in March. One was sold in Ottawa, Kan.
Yet perhaps Missouri might be the better bet.
Missouri Lottery spokeswoman Susan Goedde points out that Missouri is the second most-winning state with 26 Powerball winners.
“It seems to be a lucky state,” she said. “We’re hoping we get No. 27.”
Then again, Kansas is one of the few states where the lottery will keep the winner’s name a secret. Missouri considers the winner’s name a matter of public record.
As optimistic as those in line were on Tuesday, few bothered with the details of cashing in. Most were busy dreaming and smiling about the possibilities.
“I’d go hog wild,” said Jerry Hardy, who bought five Powerball tickets.
At 72, he would buy the private railroad car, complete with crystal goblets, that he’s been thinking about for years. He’d use it to travel the country in high style.
Cynthia Washington said friends could visit her on a tropical island. They’d find her on the beach sipping drinks from a coconut. Her family wouldn’t have to visit; her mom, Mary Ann Oatis, and other family members would be sitting right next to her.
Jose Guerra doesn’t have to worry about wasting any winnings on cars because he can’t drive. He would split it with family and try to be humble.
“I don’t want to be one of those people who spend it all and are back in the same boat,” he said.
Those playing in family or office pools said they have a system to ensure everything is square. Rose plans to scan the tickets and email the numbers to co-workers so everyone can keep her honest.
Not a bad idea, considering that office lottery collections have gone south before.
In September, a group of McDonald’s employees in Maryland sued a co-worker, alleging that she defrauded them of lottery winnings.
The woman originally claimed to be one of the winners in the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot. But she later held a news conference to announce that she had lost the ticket. The winning ticket was later claimed by three public school educators.
Stories about relationships gone wrong also abound: marriages ruined, families divided, friendships shattered.
Lottery officials try to stay out of it all.
But Kansas’ Lunsford offers this: “If it were me playing, I’d maybe want something in writing. When it gets up to this much, just to take away any problem.”
And, she offers, don’t forget to sign the back of the ticket immediately. “That way the ticket belongs to you and only you and nobody else can claim it.”
As for Rose, no need to call a gambling hotline. The mayor, who would give much of her winnings away, had to have a lottery employee explain the rules to her as she put down $126 for 63 tickets.
“This is just something fun,” she said, still giddy at the potential.
There in her dream, clear as day, was a doctor leading a conga line of euphoric employees right out of the health clinic where they all work.
Then, of course, she woke up to reality.
Count Rose among the millions caught up in a Powerball frenzy that seemed to be growing by the minute. The ticket won’t be drawn until 9:59 tonight, but the lines had formed already Tuesday at places like the Riverside Red X, where smiling strangers chatted up one another while waiting.
Everyone was joking about their jackpot. Several, including Rose, were pooling their dollars to play in office pools. Few seemed worried about watering down their take by splitting the prize. Rose entered two office collections: She helped organize one at the health clinic and then threw a few dollars into a pool with employees of Riverside, where she is the mayor.
“My glass is always half-full,” Rose said. “I’m very optimistic and very positive.”
Chuck Strutt, executive director of the Multi-State Lottery Association, said there’s about a 60 percent chance a ticket will win today — maybe better if there’s a flurry of last-minute buyers picking unique numbers.
But back to reality.
The chances of winning are 1 in 175 million.
“You’re more likely to be killed in a car wreck going to buy the ticket,” said a half-joking Paul Johnson, associate director of the Center for Research Methods and Data Analysis at the University of Kansas.
Although the odds aren’t good, the extra dollars coming in don’t hurt city and state coffers. Half the proceeds go to the prize pool, and the rest goes to the 42 states, plus Washington, D.C., and the Virgin Islands, where Powerball is played. That money typically goes into education and charitable efforts, in addition to paying for overhead and compensating winning stores.
Johnson, who has never bought a Powerball ticket, remains intrigued by the psychological aspects of it all.
“If you’re completely cold and logical about it, you know that your chance of winning is so small that it doesn’t justify the investment,” he said.
But he understands this isn’t about logic, reason or math.
“People are playing the lottery not because they expect to win the prize, but for the excitement or the feeling of expectation that they might win,” he said.
It gives co-workers, family and friends something to talk and dream about, he said. And don’t long odds make the best stories?
Many still relish the vision of eight Nebraska meatpacking plant employees claiming $365 million. It was the biggest Powerball jackpot until now.
“This is a great country!” one worker said at the time.
Sure, it’s a long shot, said Kansas Lottery spokeswoman Sally Lunsford, “but hey, it happens. It happened right here in Kansas.”
The Powerball jackpot is the largest in the game’s history, but it’s the second largest lottery prize. The biggest lottery jackpot was $656 million in Mega Millions, split by three winning tickets in March. One was sold in Ottawa, Kan.
Yet perhaps Missouri might be the better bet.
Missouri Lottery spokeswoman Susan Goedde points out that Missouri is the second most-winning state with 26 Powerball winners.
“It seems to be a lucky state,” she said. “We’re hoping we get No. 27.”
Then again, Kansas is one of the few states where the lottery will keep the winner’s name a secret. Missouri considers the winner’s name a matter of public record.
As optimistic as those in line were on Tuesday, few bothered with the details of cashing in. Most were busy dreaming and smiling about the possibilities.
“I’d go hog wild,” said Jerry Hardy, who bought five Powerball tickets.
At 72, he would buy the private railroad car, complete with crystal goblets, that he’s been thinking about for years. He’d use it to travel the country in high style.
Cynthia Washington said friends could visit her on a tropical island. They’d find her on the beach sipping drinks from a coconut. Her family wouldn’t have to visit; her mom, Mary Ann Oatis, and other family members would be sitting right next to her.
Jose Guerra doesn’t have to worry about wasting any winnings on cars because he can’t drive. He would split it with family and try to be humble.
“I don’t want to be one of those people who spend it all and are back in the same boat,” he said.
Those playing in family or office pools said they have a system to ensure everything is square. Rose plans to scan the tickets and email the numbers to co-workers so everyone can keep her honest.
Not a bad idea, considering that office lottery collections have gone south before.
In September, a group of McDonald’s employees in Maryland sued a co-worker, alleging that she defrauded them of lottery winnings.
The woman originally claimed to be one of the winners in the $656 million Mega Millions jackpot. But she later held a news conference to announce that she had lost the ticket. The winning ticket was later claimed by three public school educators.
Stories about relationships gone wrong also abound: marriages ruined, families divided, friendships shattered.
Lottery officials try to stay out of it all.
But Kansas’ Lunsford offers this: “If it were me playing, I’d maybe want something in writing. When it gets up to this much, just to take away any problem.”
And, she offers, don’t forget to sign the back of the ticket immediately. “That way the ticket belongs to you and only you and nobody else can claim it.”
As for Rose, no need to call a gambling hotline. The mayor, who would give much of her winnings away, had to have a lottery employee explain the rules to her as she put down $126 for 63 tickets.
“This is just something fun,” she said, still giddy at the potential.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/11/27/3937468/powerball-frenzy-grows-in-500.html#storylink=cpy
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