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THE CHANCE to help others, to benefit family, friends and communities, or simply to retire early - those are some of the possibilities people cited for buying tickets for the Powerball jackpot that has reached $900 million.
Buying a ticket also means buying the fantasy of what one would do with the jackpot.
Local fueling stations are reporting more ticket sales and excitement as the pot goes unclaimed, and The Times Leader asked various people if they are considering putting money down on a ticket and what they might do if they won.
At the Hanover Fuel Stop in Martins Ferry, Lisa Souza of Lowell, Massachusetts, said she would help her loved ones and those who need assistance the most.
"If I played and I won, I'd help every person I know. There wouldn't be a person who was excluded from my winning," she said. "I would find the state who is the largest population that needs public assistance, and I would help them. My kids, my family, my friends, everybody I possibly could, because I'm not gonna die with it."
Also at the Hanover stop was Clayton Johnson of Baltimore, Maryland, who was intrigued by the possibility.
"It's worth the risk," he said. "(I would do) the opposite of what most people do: save it. Stocks, bonds, stuff like that."
At the Sunoco station in Martins Ferry, employee Deep Singh said excitement was high among customers, many of whom are buying more tickets.
"Saturday no one hit, so Powerball goes up. So maybe tonight it will be close to $1 billion. So people, they get gas and come inside and play more Powerball, like $20, $50," Singh said.
He added that customers often spend $2-$5 on tickets when the jackpot is $5 million and under.
Sunoco customer Bryan James of Martins Ferry decided to pass on the Powerball tickets.
"I ain't buying none. Nope, not one. I need all my money," he laughed.
Tonia Morgan of Martins Ferry also had ideas while stopping by Sunoco.
"I would put my grandma in a nice home and take care of my kids and put them in college," Morgan said. "With that much money, I'd probably donate some as well. You can't spend all that money in one lifetime - well, I'd try."
On the streets of Martins Ferry, Jeff Burton Jr. and Jennifer Burton also dreamed of helping others.
"I'd probably make a different place for the homeless, and different programs to help get this country back where it needs to be," Jeff Burton said.
"I would definitely help with my family," Jennifer Burton said. "I would definitely donate money to the homeless and the tornado victims and the people that need it in this world. I would love to help as much as I can with anybody who needs it."
At the A+ Fuel Mart outside St. Clairsville there are no lottery sales, but owner Naji Abboud noticed the excitement.
"I hear a lot of people coming in, and they want to try. They have plans for winning the lottery," he said, adding he has seen people purchasing hundreds of dollars worth of lottery tickets at other sites. He said they often have systems or combinations of numbers they believe will boost their odds.
Abboud wishes them well, but he had words of warning.
"I hope to God somebody wins, because it's going to drive people crazy," he said. "I don't see myself spending $500."
He added that winning big can have it's perils.
"If you're not money-prepared, you will lose your mind with this money. You would lose it. You'll lose yourself," he said.
Chester Giffin of Bridgeport said his wife bought a ticket.
"First thing I'd do is retire. Pay the farm off, probably buy a new tractor," he said.
Lee Shreve of Sarahasville, Ohio, thought the odds were too high to try.
"I'm probably not gonna buy one," he said.
Allen Goddard of Blaine is buying a ticket as usual.
"I buy tickets twice a week, that's my only vice," he said. "I don't smoke, I don't drink, gotta spend it on something. ... What would I do? Take care of a lot of people that need help, that's what I would do."
At the Marathon station in St. Clairsville, employee Susan Griffiths also said demand has been high.
"We've been selling a lot," she said. "The higher the jackpot, the more we sell."
Adrian Craig of St. Clairsville doubts he will buy a ticket.
"That's a lot of money," he said. "You're going to be a lucky guy if you hit the number, and my luck ain't that good."