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           Lottery Jackpot, Largest in US History, Hits $800 Million

   by Alberto Pimienta

   People all around the U.S. are lining up to buy lottery tickets, while
   non-U.S. residents from around the world are buying them online.

   And they have a powerful incentive: the biggest jackpot in U.S.
   history, at $800 million and climbing.

   Since the Powerball Lottery drawing is not until Saturday evening,
   Florida time, the jackpot is likely to grow even more. Its size puts
   the long lines into perspective.

   Even people who do not normally feel inclined to play say they don't
   want to lose this opportunity.

   "When the jackpot gets that large, you have no choice but to play it,
   in my mind," said Kevin Ramseur during his lunch hour in Washington,
   D.C. "I rarely play the lotto, the lottery or the Powerball, but when
   the jackpot gets over $300 million, I usually buy a few tickets."

   The previous record was set in March 2012 with $656 million in the Mega
   Millions lottery.

   Electrocuted, while drowning

   The odds of winning are 1 in 292.2 million, according to the
   Multi-State Lottery Association, which runs the draw. Statisticians say
   it is easier to get hit by lightning while simultaneously drowning.

   Despite the tiny, minimal, almost impossible likelihood of winning the
   lottery, many people are to spending their cash on tickets.

   "I would pay off my husband's student loan debt, mine, my brother's.
   I'd buy my parents a house, maybe one for me," said Alicia Swenson, who
   had just gotten a ticket.

   Other people say the jackpot is far too much money for one person.

    "To be honest with you, I'd probably give most of it away," said
   Anthony Jenkins, adding that there are hundreds of people in need who
   he could help.

   Most people, however, have a wide-ranging list of ways to splurge.

   Michelle Jerman is one of them. She said the first thing she would do
   is pay Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to drop out of
   the race. But then ...

   "I want to buy a house, an island, some cars," she said. "I want to buy
   a college for my daughter ... and I want to name it after her. Maybe a
   few shopping malls."

   $1 billion ahead?

   Powerball drawings are held twice a week. This week, there was no
   winner for Wednesday's drawing, which helped create the current
   gigantic pot.

   Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the
   U.S. Virgin Islands, where some of the money raised goes to fund local
   government services. However, anyone from Argentina to Kazakhstan can
   buy a ticket for the jackpot.

   The drawing will be broadcast live Saturday night at 10:59 local time
   from Tallahassee, Florida. If there is no winning ticket, the pot could
   go up to $1 billion: a Powerball frenzy on steroids.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/powerball-jackpot-lottery-eight-hundred-million-dollars/3137398.html