The record Powerball jackpot has Schuylkill County residents hitting the local lottery stores.
High ticket sales nationally on Tuesday pushed today's drawing to $500 million. There has not been a winner for the drawing in two months and the cash payout is $327.4 million.
The jackpot is the largest-ever for the Powerball game and the second-largest lottery jackpot of all time, surpassed only by the $656 million Mega Millions record set in March. Powerball is $2 per play and $1 extra for Power Play.
The drawing has increased business at Smoker's Heaven, 25 N. Centre St., Pottsville, over the last couple days.
"This is one of the best lottery days in the 12 years we were here," Chris J. Figueiredo, store manager, said Tuesday. "Every day there's not a hit, business has picked up."
Terry Simmons, a cashier at the store, said he sold at least $100 worth of tickets Tuesday evening. Later that night, Simmons said someone made a single purchase of tickets worth $280.
Figueriredo said someone bought $115 worth of tickets earlier that morning.
"I wish someone local would hit it," Figueiredo said. "There's only a few stores that still sell state lottery tickets in Pottsville. I wish all the retailers and customers the best of luck. I know our staff would be really happy to see one of our customers hit it."
Joseph Davidson, 18, of Pottsville, was buying his first state lottery ticket at the store Tuesday night.
"I have a chance to win so I might as well get a ticket. The reward is so great," Davidson said.
Davidson said he had no idea what he would do with the money if he won. However, he did say he would probably be playing the lottery if the jackpot gets this high again.
If there is no winner for tonight's drawing, the next drawing will be Saturday.
"If it isn't hit (tonight), it is going to be outrageous here from Thursday to Saturday," Figueiredo said.