Meridian residents share their thoughts on the Mega Millions lottery jackpot growing to $1 billion

With no winner in the last drawing for the Mega Millions, many are rushing to buy a lottery ticket, in hopes of taking home the estimated $1 billion jackpot.

Tonight there will be a drawing for the Mega Millions lottery, and to win the money a person would to have to beat the challenging odds. According to the Mega Millions, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in approximately 302.5 million.

One local convenience store in Meridian has seen an uptick in its number of Mega Millions lottery ticket sales, as the jackpot continues to grow. Seeing some players crossing state lines from Alabama to purchase the lottery tickets, since Alabama does not have a lottery.

“It’s been crazy, a lot more people coming in. we’re selling a lot of tickets like crazy. We’re right on the edge of Mississsippi and Alabama, so we got to, -- got to have some folks from Alabama,” said Justin Kase, employee at the Shell gas station on MS-493.

The Mega Millions lottery came to Mississippi almost one year ago, in January of 2020, and has seen a positive response from local lottery players hoping to win big.

“Everybody wants to get out of poverty and do better,” said Andre Owens, plays the lottery.

“Just testing their luck. –That’s all it is, trying to get rich,” said Kase.

One Meridian lottery player shared that he thinks there will be an increase in the number of people playing the Mega Millions, if the jackpot continues to grow.

“I think a lot more people will come out and play, -- but if I don’t hit today, I don’t think I’m going to play again,” said Owens.

The next jackpot is estimated at $1 billion, with a cash option of $739.6 million