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CNN Saturday Morning News

D.C. Citizens Clamor for Powerball Tickets

Aired August 25, 2001 - 09:55   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We're counting down to tonight's big Powerball drawing, along with millions of other people, and probably you, across the country.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN ANCHOR: No. It's a whopping $280 million jackpot -- I have no money invested and don't plan to.

But Kathleen Koch is with a bunch of people that do. Powerball is in frenzy in Washington, I understand -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are in a frenzy here. They say that they are selling Powerball tickets at 20 times the normal rate here, so welcome to the street of dreams. And everyone here is definitely a dream believer.

They do say that generally, even when these big Powerball jackpots are out there, that people only buy between one and five tickets. And frankly, a lot of the optimists here on the line say that that's all you need is one ticket, as long as it's the lucky ticket.

Now, here at this particular lottery retailer, this is one of the busiest in the entire city of Washington, D.C. They have four Powerball machines inside that are spewing out lottery tickets continuously, and they have been since the opened the doors at 8:00 a.m. this morning.

Now, the odds are long, though, of hitting that great jackpot tonight, one in 80 million. Lottery officials are very careful to say that you're actually more likely to get struck by lightning twice on a sunny day than to hit this jackpot.

Most of the people here in line are probably more likely to win a $3 prize. Their odds for that, a pretty decent one in 75.

Lottery officials also do, you know, they have to talk to people about these concerns, that this is gambling, to the concerns that this could be addictive, and that it's draining money away from people who can least afford it.

But lottery officials say this is just a game, just play it for fun, don't spend the mortgage, don't spend your children's college tuition, just spend what you can afford. And again, the breast implant Powerball drawing will be at 10:59 Eastern time tonight. Back to you.

PHILLIPS: Very good advice.

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