LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) It's a record, the highest Powerball Jackpot of the year. $325 million dollars will be up for grabs Saturday and players are already grabbing their tickets.
Last February, lines were wrapped around buildings full of players buying tickets for the Mega Millions Jackpot which hit a record 640 million dollars and though this Powerball is only a little more than half that, players are still hoping they'll be the newest millionaire after the drawing.
Rodric Cohnes bought his first ever Powerball ticket at the Shell on Broadway and 7th street Friday night.
"I just bought a hit 500 ticket and won $20 and said my luck must be good so I'm gonna go for the gusto," said Cohnes.
He's hoping to hit the largest Powerball Jackpot of the year.
"Whoa, I can't even say that. 300 million? 325 million. Whoa! I need that I want that, I'm gonna get that," said Cohnes.
Randy Block, a regular Powerball player says it's the super size jackpot that has him even more optimistic.
"It makes me more hopeful I guess, makes me that much more likely to make sure I buy a ticket today," said Block.
Gwon Lambert says players have trickled in throughout the day but he expects more this time tomorrow.
"If don't no one win tomorrow, I think the lines will be outside. When it got up to 600 million, the lines was outside and people was coming and buying 200, 300 dollars worth of tickets so it's kind of crazy," says Lambert.
It's a lot of money Cohnes says he already knows how he'll spend.
"Oh, I would buy me and my momma and my everybody houses and cars. I'm gonna buy a whole neighborhood. 325 million? Oh yes, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Life," said Cohnes.
Several players, including Cohnes, also opted to buy the $1 Power Play multiplier. For an extra buck, if you happen to win a lower prize, your prize amount will double, triple or quadruple so even if you don't hit the jackpot, you still have a chance of hitting it big.
The Powerball Jackpot drawing will close tomorrow at 9 o'clock. The drawing will be at 9:59.