As Powerball jackpot hits $1.3 billion, Illinois Lottery holds ticket giveaway in Hyde Park
Some people who were feeling extra lucky headed to Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood Wednesday for the chance to grab as many Powerball tickets as they could for the $1.4 billion jackpot.
No one has matched all six numbers in the Powerball since May 31, allowing the jackpot to swell to $1.34 billion, which would be the fifth-largest prize in the game's history if there is a winner in the drawing Wednesday night.
The money is enough for someone to purchase a private jet, a mega yacht, and two thousand average American homes.
The Illinois Lottery set up its popular ticket grab machine at Hyde Park Station and Car Wash, located at 5130 S. Lake Park Ave.
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., participants stepped inside a booth for a mere five seconds to grab as many tickets as they could, for free, as the real Powerball tickets flew around the booth along with a bunch of fake cash.
The machine started with 1,000 tickets, with the goal of offloading them all.
Plenty of people lined up for the occasion.
"I'm going to go in and just scoop, just try to scoop as much money as I can," said Lolita Voss.
Voss has faith she is going to make a fortune.
"I'm trusting God that I'm the winner!" she said.
Voss banked on strategy and her sticky fingers — which was all she needed to snag a bunch of free Powerball tickets.
Those who play are required to be 18 or older. Powerball tickets are also available at more than 7,000 retailers statewide.
Payments for a jackpot would be spread over 30 years. A winner also can choose an immediate lump sum in cash before taxes, which now stands at $589 million.
The odds of matching all six numbers are astronomical: 1 in 292.2 million. The odds of getting struck by lightning are far greater. But with so many people putting down money for a chance at life-changing wealth, someone eventually wins.
But the odds won't stop people from daydreaming about taking a permanent break from work.
"I took a long lunch, and I've got to get back," one man said outside the ticket grab machine, "and if I win, I'm going to quit."
Powerball drawings are held weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights.