Ngoc Lan & Nhat Anh/Nguoi Viet
WESTMINSTER, Calif.–For the first time in the history of the U.S. Powerball Lottery, the jackpot is estimated to be worth $1.5 billion. The jackpot began on November 7, 2015 with $40 million but has grown with no winners. Powerball fever has spread all over the country, in homes, to government offices to restaurants and most of all, it is visible through the grocery stores that sell the tickets.
A woman buys lottery tickets at a local Vietnamese market. Vendors say the number of buyers has increased with the jackpot hitting $1.5 billion. (Photo: Nhat Anh/Nguoi Viet)
“The number of people buying tickets has greatly increased,” said Trinh D., of ABC Supermarket in Westminster. “The majority of buyers spend $10-$20 but people who have pools going on have spent $500 to $1000.”
Shopkeepers at Digital Printing Lab, found the same thing.
When the jackpot is so high, people are pooling together their money for better chances,” Said He Dai Chau. “Many people are waiting for the drawing date to buy their tickets since they think it will bring them more luck.”
Annie Vo, who is currently studying at the California State University, Long Beach, said she has been busy helping her family select numbers to buy the lottery.
Sonny Dang buys a ticket hoping to be a big winner. (Photo: Nhat Anh/Nguoi Viet)
“My parents like to buy lottery tickets, especially my father,” said Vo. “Usually I don’t care much but now seeing the frenzy of everyone buying around me, I want to as well.”
For Kevin Ho, who works for a bank, playing the lottery at work is against the rules.
“In our company, employees are not allowed to play the lottery and pool money, so I pool with friends outside of work,” Ho said.
John Paris, a resident of Garden Grove, said he just wanted to be a part of history.
“This is the first time I bought lottery tickets, not because I’m eager to win, but I want to be a part of this historic event, when the prize is valued over a billion dollars,” Paris said.
Although the likelihood of winning are slim, many people want to dream. If Sonny Dang, a resident of Westminster won, he said he would give it to charity and then invest the money and spend it however he wished.
The Powerball fever is so strong, it even has Facebook pages dedicated to pooling and playing the lottery. Diep Le, the group moderator, said members hail from Houston, Arizona, Atlanta, New York and as far away as Mexico.
A Facebook group dedicated to playing the Powerball and pooling with 57 members take screen shots of their ticket so all who participate are a part of the pool. )Photo: Facebook Diep Le)
“There are 57 participants in the group and members buy the tickets,” said Le. “The ticket is now part of the common property of all members of the council participating in the page.”
Helen Hang Duong, a hairdresser, giggled when asked what she would do if she won the jackpot.
“I would use the money to pay off my mortgage, then send off money to help the orphans in Vietnam and the wounded veterans.”
