ROSELAND – It's record breaking. History making. $540 million on the line. 540 million reasons to play.
"I can't even fathom what that would look like," said Mark Jacobs, who purchases tickets when the jackpot is high.
From our very own WSBT newsroom lottery pool to the cashier's till, Mega Millions fever is spreading like wildfire.
"I sold 440 (tickets) to one gentleman," said Philana Dungey, who works at the Phillips 66 gas station in Roseland.
Friday morning, the gas station will host the Hoosier Lottery's free giveaway.
Beginning at 6 a.m., the Hoosier Lottery will give away one auto-pick ticket to the first 540 people. The odds of winning more than half a billion dollars – 1 in 175,711,536.
Feel lucky?
Our Fact Finder team learned St. Joseph and surrounding counties have won their share of small prizes from the Mega Millions and the Powerball jackpots over the years. Some came very close – but no one in the area matched all 6 winning numbers.
Wayne County is home to the largest jackpot claimed in the state – $145 million after taxes.
Clark, Dearborn and Marion counties are also home to big winners.
Then there's lucky Lake County – The only county in the state home to both a Mega Millions and Powerball winner.
Our numbers expert says the odds really ARE NOT in our favor. It doesn't matter where you buy...
"There are no guarantees," said Steven Broad, mathematics professor at Saint Mary's College. "We could sell a billion tickets and still not have a guarantee of a winner,"
As for customers who kept Dungey busy, Thursday, none of that matters as long as the jackpot continues to climb higher.
"People are taking this serious," she said. "They feel like bigger the jackpot the more chance they have to win."
