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MALAD, Idaho - Thousands of people flocked to a small Idaho town Thursday with big dreams -- half a billion dollars kind of big.
Friday night, the drawing for the largest lottery jackpot in American history will take place - $540 million is at stake. The Mega-Millions lottery lured quite a few hopeful Utahns to towns along the border, where they waited in long lines for a shot at the fortune.
Ogden resident Paul Warren said though he knows the odds of winning are slim, "if you don't play, you can't win."
Warren drove to Malad to buy his tickets. He's said he has just as good a shot as anyone..
Don't matter about the odds as far as I'm concerned. The odds are best when you got some numbers.
–Paul Warren
"Don't matter about the odds as far as I'm concerned," he said. "The odds are best when you got some numbers."
Warren spent his time in line formulating a plan, should he win. "First thing is to figure out how to keep it all without paying more than I have to in taxes," he said.
Ogden resident Kent Rounkles said if he wins that jackpot, he already knows where the money will be spent.
"Pay off all my debts and make sure all my kids get college educations," he said.
Malad's Top Stop Chevron manager, Alexis Daniels, said all her employees were called in to handle the lottery crush.
"We're putting in between 10- to 12-hour days apiece," she said.
And since Friday is the day of the drawing, Daniels expects things to get even crazier.
"I would imagine it's going to be at least double this tomorrow," she said.
Morgan resident Dennis Stuart drove to Malad with a bit of skepticism, but still waited in those long lines to purchase a ticket.
"I don't know," he said. "I think it would cause you more grief than it would be worth."
We're putting in between 10- to 12-hour days apiece... I would imagine it's going to be at least double this tomorrow.
–Alexis Daniels
And if he doesn't win?
"I'll do what I always do," Stuart said. "Just a normal day."
With so many people playing, there are going to be a lot of "normal" days come Saturday. But it's tough to imagine being happy after spending all that money without anything to show for it.
Farmington resident Robert Shardy dropped $100 for 100 tickets - that's enough money to buy lunch for two weeks. But those in line said even if they don't win this one, there's always another shot.
"Get ready for the next one," said Warren. "Get ready for the next one."
