Powerball excitement reaches fever pitch - FOX5 Vegas - KVVU

Powerball excitement reaches fever pitch

It's now the largest jackpot in Powerball history. Powerball is up to $500 million and Las Vegans have been making a beeline to Arizona to scoop up tickets.

Workers at Last Stop bar and grill and Rosie's Den, a restaurant and convenience store, have been busier than ever.

A lot of money is changing hands at Rosie's Den. Hundreds are walking through the doors every hour leading up to the drawing. Workers there said they've sold in the neighborhood of a quarter-million dollars worth of tickets since Saturday.

Rosie's Den burned down last year. With the support of the community, the restaurant was able to rebuild and Las Vegans are stopping by in droves.

"It's mindboggling how faithful they've been to us. They kept us in business after the fire," said Rosie's Den owner Brad Larsen.

Larsen said they're hoping to build a new restaurant by next spring, which would include a new lottery store.

"You get your occasional 10,000 ticket buyers. We'll print $10,000 worth of tickets," Larsen said.

Despite the slim odds, those queued up have big dreams about what they would do with the winnings.

"I'd try to help who I could - family and friends. (I'd) take a long vacation, which I need," said one customer.

"I would first spoil my family and then fill my house with dollar bills and sit in it," said another customer.

"I'm gonna buy a whole country, house. (I'd) take care of my family - not all of them, just a select few," said a third customer.

The last time a lottery was this big was when Mega Millions hit $656 million back in March.

The store that sells the winning ticket could win up to $25,000.

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