News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Gas stations across Cookeville are seeing higher lottery ticket sales as the billion-dollar Mega Millions drawing is set for Tuesday night.
Super Gas Manager Charles Joseph said people are constantly coming into his store for a chance to hit the jackpot.
“From the time it’s gone across $1 billion, people are coming in like crazy out here,” Joseph said. “Some people don’t believe in lotteries so they don’t want to win, but a lot of people are just doing it to buy the tickets. It’s one of the biggest. I’ve never seen it so huge. $1.6 billion is humongous.”
Although the odds of winning the Mega Millions is slim – about 1 in 303,000,000 – Joseph said he hopes the winning ticket is sold locally.
“I wish someone in Tennessee hits [the jackpot],” Joseph said, “especially our store, Super Gas. If somebody hits from Super Gas we would be very happy. It’s all lottery, so anyone can win from everywhere because it’s all over the U.S. Anyone can win.”
Josh Greenwood is the store manager at Mapco along North Willow Avenue. He said approximately 147 tickets were sold before noon Tuesday.
“It’s sold very quickly, that’s for sure. A lot of people who’ve never played before are coming out and we’re having to show them how to fill the paperwork out,” Greenwood said. “It’s huge. [We’re] trying to keep up with people coming in wanting the tickets. It’s shocking [and] it’s amazing it can get that high without anybody hitting it.”
Freddy Lee Martin of Augusta, Georgia bought his ticket from Super Gas. He said winning will be hard, but if he does, he has big plans.
“I would help my family and some of the less fortunate,” Martin said. “Right now, I would start some kind of a company or business on my own so I wouldn’t have to work anymore.”
Although Martin admits his chances are “slim to none,” he still has words of encouragement for whoever does come up with a winning ticket.
“Congratulations to the one who wins it,” Martin said. “All I can say is thank God and thank you for blessing them. That’s all I can say.”
Joseph said the reaction towards the record-breaking jackpot is unlike anything the store has ever seen.
“I’ve never seen so many people coming in here to play Mega Millions just for the $1.6 billion,” Joseph said. “People are coming in and you wish someone wins this money. If a lot of people win, good for them. But keep playing, keep winning. If you don’t play, you don’t win.”
The $1.6 billion jackpot is the largest ever, surpassing the previous mark of $1.58 billion handed out among three winners in 2016. The number swelled after no one was able to win the $1 billion prize following Friday evening’s drawing.
The Power Ball drawing is also growing as it reached $620 million with its drawing slated for Wednesday. The Mega Millions drawing is set for 10 p.m. Tuesday.
