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Alabamians buy into Mega Millions jackpot
Thursday, March 29, 2012
It's a record lottery number and $540 million is on the line in the in Friday's Mega Millions lottery drawing. A lot of people from Alabama showed up at convenience stores across the Georgia state line off of I-20.
Some in line started chanting "Roll Tide, War Eagle". Most of the vehicles in the Pilot parking lot were from Alabama.
"I'm from Birmingham Alabama" Theron Lumpkin said Lumpkin drove over from Birmingham with his mother.
"When I walked in I was amazed at all of the people. I'd seen half the people up here, we were passing on the interstate. I had a feeling there were a lot of people up here trying to get this money," Lumpkin said. Most of those coming from Alabama admit it was because of the $540 million jackpot. Olen Averette of Cottondale admits he would not have come if the jackpot was only $10 million.
"No. I wait till it gets over $200 million then I come,"Averette said. Averette and his two companions bought $500 worth of lottery tickets. Inside of the convenience store a lot of people waited in line to get their tickets. For some it's hard to imagine winning the $540 million prize.
"I can't imagine what it would feel like to have $540 million, a half a billion in my bank account," Chris Wade of Anniston said. The chances of winning are estimated to be 1 in 176 million. Still many of the Alabama ticket buyers have dreams.
"I would help everyone I know, I believe," Gary Downs of Birmingham said.
"I know my family would be taken care of. The church would be taken care of," Wade said. "I'd build a house for my family so we would all be together," Lumpkin said.
As for Alabama not having a lottery, most of the people from the state would tell you that needs to change. "Cut the politics and give us out lottery," one woman from Birmingham said.
The cash payout of the $540 million is about $359 million. After taxes it's estimated to be $230 million. The drawing is Friday night.
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Keywords: Alabamians, Mega Millions jackpot, lottery, Georgia,
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