Hundreds line up for free Powerball ticket at Hillview Kroger as jackpot eclipses $1 billion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- With no Powerball winner after 38 drawings, Wednesday's jackpot is now worth more than a billion dollars, which has the attention of people who normally don't play.

As the fever spreads, officials with the Kentucky Lottery handed out vouchers for a free Powerball play at the Kroger in Hillview Wednesday morning. Hundreds of people lined up for the free chance to win.

More than 200 people waited for their chance to become a billionaire.

The Kentucky lottery handed out vouchers for one free Powerball ticket, valued at $2.

The Powerball is an estimated $1.2 billion with a cash option of $596.7 million, making it the second largest jackpot in history. That will be fantastic news for the winner, but Kentucky residents also win.

"So the more Powerball sales we have, the more Lottery revenue we have to fund college scholarships and grants," said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville. But we want people to get in the game. When they hear that $1.2 BILLION, I think they say 'I got to get in on that.'"

Kentucky has had 18 jackpot winners in the past. The most recent was won by Rob and Tuesday Anderson of Georgetown in 2009 when they hit the jackpot of $128.6 million.

Powerball drawings happen every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Related Stories: