Connecticut Powerball players are chasing a massive $1 billion jackpot, and some local retailers have built a reputation for selling winning tickets over the years.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot remain incredibly long — about 1 in 292 million. Still, Connecticut Lottery data shows that certain stores have sold far more winning draw-game tickets than others.
One of the biggest standouts is the Exxon station on Woodland Avenue in Hartford. Between 2000 and 2015, it sold more than 860 winning tickets, making it the state’s top retailer during that period. The Stop N Go in Bloomfield also made the list, with more than 600 winning tickets. The store recently sold a $100,000 winner, too.
Hartford resident Ronin Espinal decided to try his luck at the Woodland Avenue Exxon, purchasing five tickets. He said his numbers are based on important family dates, including birthdays.
“Something’s going to hit,” Espinal said.
If he lands the jackpot, Espinal plans to:
- Pay off his family’s homes
- Grow his home improvement business
- Travel with his family
Quinnipiac University mathematics professor Mous-Abou Hamadou said players should understand just how unlikely a jackpot win is, while remembering that the odds are not zero.
“Someone can win just by playing once,” Hamadou said, noting that the hope of winning often keeps people coming back for more.
The Powerball drawing is scheduled for 10:59 p.m. tonight, with Connecticut ticket sales ending at 10 p.m.
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