Powerball pulls in lines of hopeful purchasers|[10/18/05]

DELTA – A big Powerball pool is again resulting in lines of hopeful ticket-buyers at Louisiana outlets where a $1 purchase could result in a $340 million prize.

&#8220This is the largest Powerball in the nine years I’ve been with this station,” said Hattie Vines, a manager at the Interstate Chevron at Delta.

About 40 people were in line Monday in anticipation of Wednesday night’s drawing.

Vines said there have been lines inside and outside the store for several days.

&#8220We’ve had a bunch of people in here since Saturday,” she said. &#8220People come from Mississippi and everywhere else when the Powerball gets up.”

While there is no lottery in Mississippi, it is legal for state citizens to participate in the multistate drawing for the giant pool. Louisiana started a state lottery in 1990 and became a Powerball state in 1995.

The volume of tickets sold at border outlets has resulted in a lot of winners. &#8220Just this year, we’ve had $400,000 in lottery winnings,” Vines said.

Powerball jackpots start at $15 million. If no one wins the jackpot, it keeps growing. Drawings are held every Saturday and Wednesday with ticket sales stopping at 9 p.m. before the 10 p.m. drawings.

Winning numbers may be verified with any Louisiana Lottery online retailer, or by calling 1-800-735-5825. All prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date.