Powerball Fever Sweeping Through The Valley

Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is the biggest lottery prize in the U.S. history.

It rose to $900 million dollars Saturday morning and is expected to grow before the drawing in just under an hour.

“Today has been really steady. We haven’t gotten out the door but it’s been steady all morning,” says convenience store cashier Karen Ewertz.

“A billion dollars is a lot of money. That’s a third on the way to Oprah,” says Powerball player Scott Kraig.

The jackpot will approach $1 billion by Saturday’s drawing.

Almost the whole nation is playing the Powerball.

44 states, as well as Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, are all scooping up tickets.

Ewertz adds, “On one transaction it was maybe 15 to 20. No, about 20.”

That’s about $40 worth of two dollar Powerball tickets.

Another cashier says someone spent a whopping $200 on just tickets.

The Powerball fever is pretty contagious.

Kraig says, “I was only going to get one today but I actually got five yesterday too, just to increase my chances by .01 percent.”

Many are feeling lucky for tonight’s drawing and already know what they plan on doing if they win the jackpot.

Kraig explains, “Well, number one, family. Families always first. And then the fun!”

Family seems to make it on everyone’s list.

“Charity, church and taking care of my family,” says West Fargo woman, Rebecca Marshall.

The lump sum cash out for the $900 million jackpot is $558 million.

Winners can also choose to receive annual payments for the next 30 years.

Powerball officials say the chances of winning are 1 in 292 million.

But if you don’t play the game, you can’t win it.

If there is not a winner for Saturday’s drawing, the jackpot will soar past $1 billion for the next drawing.