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Record jackpot draws crowds

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Mike O’Brien of Amity buys one last “insurance ticket” for himself, in addition to participating in a pool at work, at Popcorn Willy in Washington Friday.

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Practical advice on a sign inside B&K Market & Deli on East Hallam Avenue in Washington

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Kenny Moskal and Don “Cowboy” Johnson, working at B&K Market & Deli on East Hallam Avenue in Washington, oversaw more than $2,200 in Powerball ticket sales in a matter of hours Friday.

The Powerball jackpot already broke records this week as sales continued to push its prize above $800 million ahead of tonight’s drawing.

Mike O’Brien of Amity was among those stricken with lottery fever Friday as he was visiting Popcorn Willy on Main Street in Washington. He bought an “insurance ticket” in case his co-workers’ pool doesn’t pan out.

“This is it. Right here. The winner,” he said with a laugh after buying a single, $2 quick-pick ticket.

The biggest single purchases were a handful of people buying as much as $50 worth of tickets, according to Mark Buxton, who owns the store.

“We mostly see quick picks. At least today and yesterday. About 90 percent of customers were doing automated numbers,” Buxton said, “and group play is really popular. A lot of the county employees come down and get a bunch for their offices.”

The lottery’s jackpot prize has been increasing since a Nov. 4 drawing – it hit $675 million Wednesday – and nobody has hit the winning numbers in 18 consecutive drawings. During that time in Pennsylvania, Powerball has produced one $2 million winner, two $1 million winners and nearly 1.2 million winners of more than $13.6 million in smaller prizes, according to Pennsylvania Lottery officials.  A person has roughly a 1-in-292 million chance of winning the jackpot.

Anna Myers of Washington, walking out of B&K Market and Deli on East Hallam Avenue in Washington, said her five tickets were a bet against debt.

“A new car. And getting ‘the man’ off me,” Myers said.

“They say, ‘Give me the winning ticket,'” said Don “Cowboy” Johnson, who works at B&K.

“Those are the players who don’t do the dailies. We try and help them out and suggest them to pick lucky numbers, birthdays, but sometimes they go for the computer (quick picks),” said Kenny Moskal, co-owner of B&K.

Moskal said B&K had 920 sales worth a total of $2,264 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday.

“That’s already about what we had Thursday. And there will be more – plenty more – Saturday,” he said.

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