August 28, 2009 7:23 AM
What would you do with all that dough?
That's the question on many people's minds as they await tonight's Mega Millions lottery drawing. The Jackpot is at an estimated $325 million and a cash option is available at a whopping $204.6 million.
Buying Lotto tickets in hopes of becoming the state's latest mega-millionaire, customers trickled in and out of Crown Liquor store at 2 N. Milpas street Thursday afternoon.
The cashier at Crown Liquor, who would only give his first name, John, said he sells, on average, 400 Mega Millions tickets per day. He added that "when it gets closer to the drawing day I sell more tickets." On the days when there's a drawing, he said, he sells an average of 900 tickets.
Customers can buy tickets until about 7 p.m. on the day of the drawing, he said, and usually drawing days attract the most customers to the store to buy lottery tickets.
An excited Phillip Gamble, 31, came into Crown Liquor Thursday afternoon to buy some drinks on a hot day and purchased a Mega Millions lottery ticket as well. Asked by the News-Press what he would do with $325 million, Mr. Gamble replied, "If I won $325 million ... I would release all my family from their debts, help the poor people of Santa Barbara and give back to my community."
Then, he would spend a little on himself, he said.
"I would also take a trip to Brazil. I've always wanted to go to Brazil," he mused. A semi-frequent player, he buys lottery tickets "a couple times a month" and spends about $20 a month on tickets. "Mega Millions is my favorite game," said Mr. Gamble, but sometimes he chooses other games if it feels right.
Joking around as he left the liquor store, Mr. Gamble said to the clerk, "If I win, you know I'm coming back here for you ... give you a piece."
Also in need of a refreshing drink during the hot summer afternoon, Ruben Chavez, 51, came into the liquor store to slake his thirst and while doing so bought a lottery ticket.
He told the News-Press that if he won the $325 million Jackpot he would "take a vacation to Mexico and then come back and take a week to think about what to do with the rest of the money." Mr. Chavez spends no more than $15 a month on lottery tickets and said he always does the "quick pick" (done by the lottery computer) because I don't like taking the time to figure out those numbers."
He only buys tickets when the jackpot is big.
A 44-year-old mother strolled into the liquor mart to buy her Lotto ticket before the drawing of today's winners. She told the News-Press that if she were the lucky jackpot winner she "would keep half and the other half would go to my friends and family who need some help. ... You can't take it all with you ... you have to spread the wealth," she added.
According to megamillions.com, jackpot winners can choose between the annuity option in which they will be provided with annual payments over a 26-year period or winners can choose the cash option in which they will be provided a one-time, lump-sum payment that is equal to the cash in the Mega Millions jackpot prize pool. The odds of anyone winning the Jackpot, according to the Mega Millions Web site, are approximately 1 in 175 million.
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