Powerball players hope for luck on the Central Coast

The Powerball jackpot has reached $700 million, the second largest in U.S. history.

Hundreds of people on the Central Coast were out buying last minute tickets before the winning numbers are pulled.

“Somebody’s got to win it,” one man said.

Frank, like many others, hope they’ll be $700 million richer by Wednesday night, the second largest Powerball jackpot in U.S. History.

They’re off to a good start, buying tickets at Star Market, one of the Salinas retailers considered lucky by state lottery officials.

“A couple of years ago we had a $2.3 million dollar winner,” store manager Victor Kong said.

Hoping lightning will strike twice, they keep coming back.

“I don’t have any secret numbers or anything like that,” on man said.

“I’m going to get two with my numbers on them and then I’m going to get two quick picks then I’m going to get a Super Lotto,” one woman said.

The cash value, after taxes, comes to $443 million.

The actual chances of winning are 1 in 292 million. According to CBS News, the odds have dropped in the past few years because there are now more of those little white balls in the cage. The numbers used to go up to 59, they now to go 69.

In the meantime, folks are already planning how they’d spend that money, from giving it away to opening an animal shelter to traveling the world.

If no one matches the Powerball numbers, it’ll keep growing. It’s expected to reach $1 billion but could surpass the current record jackpot of $1.6 billion, split by three winning tickets in January 2016.

According to the California Lottery website only one lotto retailer on the Central Coast has sold 2 winning tickets for $1 million or more since the start of the lottery to 2013. The lucky retailer store, “U Save Liquor,” is located in Santa Cruz.

For a full list of lucky lottery retail stores in California click: HERE.