Lottery fever grows as Powerball jackpot reaches more than $600 million

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Many folks around the country are checking their Powerball jackpot tickets tonight and praying for good luck and favor. Tonight’s winning ticket will be the 10th largest payout in U.S. jackpot history.

This Powerball jackpot now ranks in the top 10 largest at $635 million. The Powerball jackpot has been growing for nearly four months without a grand prize winner.

Channel 2′s Elizabeth Rawlins caught up with some players at a Cobb County gas station.

“You know, what do I have to lose,” said player Mark Butler.

There is fierce competition as Georgia is among 45 states betting on a winning ticket.

The last time a winning ticket was sold in Georgia was nearly five years ago. The winning ticket was sold Thanksgiving 2016 at a gas station in Cobb County, netting the winner a cool $82 million.

The chance of winning is slim, but some believe they may have better odds at a winning store.

“It’s been seen in some places where tickets do hit consecutively,” said player Rodney Smith.

This year’s Powerball jackpot comes on the heels of a pandemic, nearly two years of financial hardship and economic uncertainty for so many Americans.

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“I would think anybody in the past year that can scrounge up two bucks. Anybody with two bucks would play to get past this,” said Butler.

Butler is truly an optimistic lottery player.

“I’m feeling lucky. This may be the winning ticket,” said Butler.

It’s been nearly five years since a winning Powerball jackpot ticket has been sold in Georgia, which leads some to believe we are long overdue and the odds may be in our favor.

Man claims $500,000 Powerball jackpot day before ticket expired (NCD)

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