High stakes lottery could mean jackpot for businesses

CEDAR RAPIDS — A record-breaking Mega Millions jackpot has area businesses preparing for a rush of ticket purchasers.

The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to $508 million Wednesday, making it the seventh-highest lottery in U.S. history. The cash payout is valued at $357 million.

Area businesses selling lottery tickets saw a steady flow of purchases for the drawing, and most places expect even more Friday.

'It'll be super busy. You probably won't even see the floor,' said Cheryl Anclade, a customer service employee at the Hy-Vee on 1843 Johnson Ave. NW.

The next drawing is 10 p.m. Friday. Tickets may be bought until 8:59 p.m.Mary Neubauer, vice president of external relations at Iowa Lottery, said ticket sales are always the highest the day of the drawing.

Tuesday marked the 34th consecutive drawing that failed to produce any winners, making this the longest Mega Millions run ever,The Hy-Vee on Johnson Ave. has the second-highest lottery ticket sales in Eastern Iowa, according to Neubauer, just behind the Cedar Rapids Hy-Vee at 20 Wilson Ave. SW. But Anclade said customers were few Wednesday.

For area gas stations, however, it was another story.

'At lunch and breakfast time, it was like a zoo,' said Julious Gboro, an employee at Kum & Go on 16th Ave. SW.

Ken Cross, general manager for the Kum & Go, said it was common for people to buy hundreds of dollars of tickets in lottery pools.

Gary Strauss, 71, of Cedar Rapids stopped into the Kum & Go to buy a ticket Wednesday, saying he 'wouldn't mind $500 million.'

But, he added, 'the odds of winning are so slim that you don't really worry about it.'

Chances of winning Friday are 1 in 259 million, Neubauer said.

Barb Reuter, 69, of Cedar Rapids, was at the Hy-Vee on Johnson Avenue, but said she avoids the lottery during high jackpots because she thinks her chances of winning are much less.