Powerball prize jumps to an estimated $900 million after no jackpot winners Saturday

FROM RANKIN COUNTY. >> GIANT LOTTERY JACKPOTS OFTEN MEAN A BIG PICKUP IN PACE OF SALES. THAT’S BEEN THE CASE FOR LOCAL RETAILERS AS PEOPLE ARE RUSHING IN, HOPING TO CASH IN ON THIS GIANT JACKPOT. >> A NORMAL WEEK PROBABLY NONE. >> BUT WHEN THE JACKPOT GETS THIS JACKPOT GETS YOU KNOW, WHEN NOBODY’S WON IT FOR 2 OR 3 MONTHS, THEN I START BUYING IT. THERE IS A MARKED DIFFERENCE IN BUSINESS AT THE RACEWAY ON AIRPORT ROAD NOW THAT THE POWERBALL JACKPOT HAS JUMPED UP TO ITS SIXTH LARGEST JACKPOT EVER. >> OH, YES. MONEY SALES GOES UP. REVENUE GOES UP. EVERYBODY’S HAPPY. >> HOW MANY TICKETS DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT SAY SELL ON A DAY LIKE THIS? >> PROBABLY 300. >> THE POWERBALL JACKPOT IS ESTIMATED TO BE $750 MILLION. >> AND I’D LIKE TO HIT IT. THAT’S WOULDN’T YOU LIKE TO HIT THAT THING? >> I WOULDN’T OBJECT AT ALL, MAN. >> I TELL YOU WHAT, JUST THINK OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY I ALREADY GOT, CAUSE I MIGHT SWITCH CARS. >> BUT MOST OF ALL, MOST IMPORTANTLY, PROBABLY BE CHURCH STUFF AND HELPING PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP. >> PEOPLE DO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH THAT MUCH MONEY. THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI HAS SEEN A STRONG PUSH IN THE FINAL WEEKS OF SALES BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. >> IT REALLY DRAWS PEOPLE OUT. THEY WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT MORE. WE SEE THE OTHER GAMES INCREASE AS WELL. SPENDING ON OTHER GAMES. AND OF COURSE, IT BRINGS IN PLAYERS THAT TYPICALLY DON’T PLAY. >> CURRENTLY, THE STATE HAS COLLECTED $113 MILLION WITH THE JUNE NUMBERS STILL NOT TABULATED YET. THE FIRST 80 MILLION EACH YEAR BY STATE LAW GOES TO ROAD AND BRIDGE REPAIR. ANYTHING AFTER THAT GOES TO EDUCATION. AND THE STATE SAYS BIG JACKPOTS LIKE THIS FOR POWERBALL AND MEGA MILLION IS IMPROVING THE STATE’S FINAL ESTIMATES FOR THE GAMES OF CHANCE THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE TAKING A CHANCE ON. NOW, I THINK SITTING AT 113, THAT MIGHT BRING US UP TO I MEAN, ALMOST 121 122 WE MIGHT BE JUST A LITTLE AHEAD OF LAST YEAR. SO THERE’S STILL TIME TO BUY THAT LAST POWERBALL TICKET BEFORE THE DEADLINE AT 8:59 P.M. IN PEARL S