Lucky retailers swamped by Powerball hopefuls

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The record Powerball jackpot has now topped $1.5 billion so many people have been buying tickets at stores which have been lucky in the past.

Gurjit Singh manages the Quick N E-Z mini-mart on Shaw and Polk. Singh said, "The people come here and they remember that's the lucky store."

The store turned Maria Padilla into a Powerball millionaire in October of 2014. She won $1.2 million dollars. Singh said, "That's exciting man you know. So after that we sell a lot of tickets. People come over here and say that's the lucky store and they come here to buy more tickets here."

The California Lottery actually designates some stores as "lucky retailers" if their customers win more often than others. The 7/11 store across from Fresno State sold a $30 million dollar Mega Millions ticket in October of 2012. Valderia Okoli of Fresno figured, "My chances might be great."

Customers hoped the luck continues with the next Powerball draw. Okoli said, "I think it's great. Hopefully I win or someone close to me wins and we can all share. Since it's so high I'm playing it. Normally I don't."

That's how many people feel. Two dollars for a shot at over $1.5 billion dollars. It's drawn many non-lottery players into the game. Robert Haub of Fresno said, "When it got high our whole department did. 28 out of 30 of us doing it as a group."

His fellow workers at PG&E pitched in $10 each. Robert was buying at four different stores. We told him this was a store with a winning past. Haub said, "I should have bought them all here."

The Fast n Easy store on Shields and Armstrong has also been swamped. Carl Mitchell won a $213 million Powerball jackpot there in 2013.