Lottery fever strikes region

SANDPOINT — Lottery fever has struck North Idaho once again.

With the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots presenting a double threat of $350 million and $170 million respectively, convenience stores are being hit hard as people scramble to get in on the fun. According to Idaho Lottery public information specialist David Workman, tickets are flying off the counters.

“Some of our retail locations across the state have actually experienced lines of people waiting to buy tickets,” he said.

Bonner County is no exception. Over at Dairy Depot, employee Adam Couch said he’s seen a constant demand for the tickets from customers hoping to grab one of those nine-figure jackpots — or at least one of the many standard prizes.

“There have been more Powerball and Mega tickets sold here in the past three days than I can remember at any other time,” Couch said.

Across the entire state, lottery ticket sales have increased 35 percent between the sales for both games. As long as those jackpots hold up, those numbers will likely remain steady as more and more office pools and individual enthusiasts join the mix.

“We do see more people join office pools and buy tickets in groups when the jackpots start to grow,” said Idaho lottery director Jeff Anderson.

While residents likely remember the hype that surrounded the record-setting, $500 million Powerball jackpot last November, it’s the rare phenomenon of dueling jackpots that sets this occasion apart, Workman said. Two simultaneous nine-figure jackpots have only occurred four times in lottery history, and even then, the combined totals have never exceeded a half-billion dollars like the $520 million currently up for grabs. That in itself is changing some individuals’ spending plans.

“People will come in asking for a ticket and wonder what the jackpot total is,” Couch said. “When I tell them, they end up buying three instead.”

While it’s easy and fun to get caught up in the lottery fever, Workman cautions individuals to not go overboard in their spending. The chances of winning a jackpot are still one in 175 million, and the odds are against breaking even when it comes to overly optimistic spending.

“We do want to keep people on task and remind them not to spend more than they can afford,” Workman said. “After all, it only takes one ticket to win.”

To take a shot at the $350 million Powerball jackpot, third largest in the game’s history, purchase tickets before 6:55 p.m. Wednesday. Mega Millions tickets must be purchased before 6:55 p.m. tonight for a chance at the $170 million jackpot. There’s no telling if anyone will land a nine-figure payday this week, however, and anticipation will only increase along with the jackpots.

“There really will be a lot of fun and excitement if those jackpots continue to grow,” Workman said.