With the Powerball jackpot climbing past $1.7 billion, lottery fever is sweeping the nation. On December 24 here in Erie, customers lined up to try their luck.<\/p>\n
From first-time players to regular hopefuls, the energy at Kelleys Market is high.<\/p>\n
Where is Santa Claus on his journey around the world? Call this number to find out! <\/a><\/p>\n With the jackpot reaching record highs, customers in Erie are grabbing their tickets and sharing dreams.<\/p>\n Despite astronomical odds, many shoppers say they are taking a chance, if not for the money, then for the excitement.<\/p>\n Arleen Thompson bought tickets for her work pool. She said they come back cause they\u2019ve won before.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, the first time we won $76 and reinvested it. Second time we won, I can\u2019t remember what we won the second time. But then this time, this last time we won $16 and reinvested it,\u201d said Thompson.<\/p>\n Bill Rose is the owner of Kelleys Market in Erie. He said they get lots more foot traffic when the powerball is high.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, lots of people come out who don\u2019t usually play. They\u2019ll play when it\u2019s big like this,\u201d said Rose.<\/p>\n Some people are buying these tickets for themselves, some are buying them for their kids, or others for Christmas, and others? Well, they\u2019re buying it for their big business to share the jackpot, assuming they will win the big one.<\/p>\n \u201cI would spoil a lot of people, and then there are a lot of homeless people and a lot of vets that need help. So I\u2019d help the poor people. I\u2019d probably spend it all there before I buffer myself,\u201d said Thompson.<\/p>\n