Powerball jackpot climbing at $441M, but not nearly a record

Lora Trenney of Kiski Township is feeling lucky.

The 40-year-old bartender at Cicero’s Bar and Grill in Leechburg bought a Powerball ticket Tuesday during her work shift.

The lottery jackpot swelled to an estimated $441 million with a cash option of $317.5 million for the Wednesday drawing, according to the Powerball website.

Trenney said she has played the lottery since she was 18 and said the buzz around the bar when Powerball jackpots get huge always includes a discussion of spending millions.

“They say they’ll buy houses, cars and move away,” Trenney said.

Terry McGartland of Penn Township also said he was excited about the jackpot and probably will spend $20 trying to get the winning ticket.

He purchased one chance Tuesday at the PT Pit Stop convenience store on Route 130 in Harrison City.

“It’s great and adds excitement in the holiday season with the big jackpot,” McGartland said.

Cashier Malarie Smith saw a steady stream of customers lining up Tuesday to purchase Powerball tickets and play other lottery games in the Plaza News Stand at the Route 30 Shoppes in Unity.

“There’s been a ton of people here today,” Smith said. She estimated customer numbers were up more than 50% compared to a normal day.

Mynn Weiss of Unity was among those looking to cash in on the big Powerball prize. She purchased two tickets for herself and four for a friend.

Her past lottery winnings have been “not big, but not too bad,” she said. “I usually buy them. I’ll take a chance.”

Demand for Powerball tickets increased the traffic at Ciggy’s tobacco and lottery outlet in East Huntingdon, where most patrons pulled up to the drive-thru window to take a chance on Wednesday’s jackpot and to check on potential winners from recent drawings.

“People have been coming in nonstop,” said clerk Virginia Barko. She estimated sales were up by between 5% and 10%.

“Most of the people are regulars, but I’ve seen a lot of new faces today, as well,” she said.

This week’s jackpot is the third-highest this year. Winners can select their prize as an annual payment or receive a lump sum. With the annual payment, the winner is guaranteed to receive payments for 30 years.

Despite the large jackpot, Allan Lydic, owner of The Greensburg Newstand in Greensburg, said he’s not seeing a big uptick in sales for this particular Powerball drawing.

Lydic said while customers always get enthusiastic about enormous Powerball jackpots, this one isn’t causing much of a frenzy in his store.

“I don’t think people are extremely excited about $441 million. It’s been higher in the past — more than $654 million once, a 1.6 billion jackpot in 2016. Our regular players are savvy, and this is high, but it’s not in the top 10.”

Lydic thinks the the timing of the drawing might be affecting sales.

“A lot of people are on vacation and on break this time of year,” he said.

Lydic said if the newsstand sells the winning Powerball ticket, he’ll receive a payout of $100,000 for the store.

So far, the largest winning ticket he has sold has been a $25,000 scratch-off ticket.

He said the quick pick is the most popular option, and his customers typically spend about $10 on Powerball tickets.

“We’re seeing an uptick in sales with the scratch-offs. It’s crazy because of Christmas — everyone gives them as gifts,” Lydic said.

Ron Bella, 72, of West Vandergrift bought two Powerball tickets Tuesday morning at Sprankle’s Market in Leechburg.

He said he has been playing the lottery for decades but hasn’t won any significant money.

“If I won, I’d splurge on a vacation and buy a new car,” Bella said. “I always play the Powerball when it gets high.”

But, not everyone feels that way.

Patti Klasnick of Gilpin said she doesn’t have lottery fever and won’t be purchasing a ticket.

“I feel it’s a waste of money because the odds of winning are so slim,” Klasnick said.

Klasnick said, although she has played the lottery a few times, she feels the system is confusing.

“I don’t pay much attention to it (Powerball) at all,” Klasnick said.

A drawing for the Powerball is held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, with the livestream of the drawing available at powerball.com. Locally, the results can be seen on WPXI-TV at 11:11 p.m.

Powerball can be played in every state except for Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.