Powerball Driving Up Sales

Wednesday’s drawing for the record Powerball jackpot of $500 million has Missourians purchasing more tickets than usual.Missouri lottery officials say as of 3 p.m. Tuesday, Powerball ticket sales have topped $1 million for the day. That is more than half of the sales in a regular week.According to Susan Goedde of Missouri Lottery, the chances of winning the jackpot are one in 175,000,000. However, she says 26 Missourians have won the jackpot since 1992.Missourians are ranked second in winning Powerball jackpots even though the state spends less than other states. Out of 42 states, Missouri ranked eighth in sales.While residents are turning out in large numbers to play, the Missouri Lottery encourages players to only buy within their means.”We don’t ever encourage people to play beyond their means,” said Goedde. “This is just a way for them to have fun and it literally only takes one ticket to win.”Missourians have until 8:59 p.m. Wednesday to purchase tickets for the drawing.