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CNN Live Saturday
Powerball Jackpot at $128 Million
Aired August 18, 2001 - 17:06 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.
STEPHEN FRAZIER, CNN ANCHOR: There's another story that's taking over the spotlight tonight, as millions of people are more interested in one thing than any other news: A $128 million powerball jackpot.
Almost half of the country is betting on this one. Twenty one states and the District of Columbia can bet on it to be exact.
CNN's Kathleen Koch is monitoring the madness as she stands there between the line and the Almond Joy rack, in a very busy convenience store.
Kathleen, how's it going there?
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Stephen, everywhere we've been today, it is very busy. They are selling these powerball tickets in Washington, D.C., at just an incredible rate.
Normally, for the powerball game this city sells about 250,000 tickets. Well, today alone, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. they sold 455,000 tickets. At the peak hours, tickets were moving in this city at a rate of about 1,000 a minute.
Stephen, as you said, there are 21 states that are also playing this game and they say that they are moving at the same rate, or even better. In states like Connecticut and Delaware, 8, 9 times the normal number of tickets are being sold.
Most people are not spending a huge apple of money, one to $5 on their tickets. But we did talk to a few who are pooling their resources and dreaming of that very big pay off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to leave the country, go somewhere, take the family, chill for a while, leave there, go somewhere else, chill for a while, then decide if I want to come back.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have $120. We chipped in and got a pool together. So you all can come back down here Monday morning and we can get all of us on camera together. One place we will not be going, we will not be going to Disney World.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Now, the all of us that she was referring to is a group of letter carriers and postal clerks, at the post office around the corner. They report that if they win that there will be plenty of openings there. So, anyone looking for a job you know where to go.
In any case, they are betting despite the odds. The odds for this are actually 80 million to one against winning this game. And authorities, lottery authorities point out that in reality, all these people lining up hour after hour, have a greater chance of being hit by lightning than ever winning.
The best chances are one in 75, and that is to win a payoff of $3. Stephen.
FRAZIER: Nobody cares about numbers like that, Kathleen. Your math is absolutely correct.
KOCH: It pales by comparison.
FRAZIER: That's right. Well, thanks very much for that and keep us posted.
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