(PERDIDO KEY, Ala.) - In advance of Wednesday's big drawing, Alabama residents are flocking to the Florida state line to purchase lottery tickets for a chance to win $500 million.
The Flora-Bama and the Flora-Bama Liquor & Lotto are the closest to the state line. Store managers said they cannot release their overall sales figures, but they have had steady Powerball ticket business all day Tuesday.
Flora-Bama Spokesperson Candice Blake said in the rush for tickets for the biggest jackpot in history the store has seen lines form outside the door at times.
"They're coming from everywhere," Blake said. "Alabama, Florida and then you got the snow birds who are coming in.
"It has really been driving traffic all day long. People who have never even bought a lottery ticket are buying them, and so we're coaching people on how to fill these things out."
Gulf Shores Resident Jimmy Howard says his 20 powerball tickets each have a special significance.
"All my numbers are picked with certain aspects of birthdays and special occasions," Howard said. "I'm kind of superstitious."
Howard said he has some idea of what he would do if he won the $500 million.
"Probably would buy a bigger boat to start with," Howard said. "After that its the world is my oyster."
