Local lottery players are hoping to buck the odds of about 1 in 300 million this week as the Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots soar to new heights.

Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot, the second largest in the game’s history, sits at $850 million ($628.2 million cash), and Wednesday’s top Powerball prize is $730 million, a cash value of $546 million.

Retailers were busy Monday as high jackpots even bring out some of the area’s biggest pessimists.

“I used to play a lot, but I’m just not lucky,” said Cristina Ross, of Lehighton, outside of the Fegley’s Fast Fill gas station on Blakeslee Boulevard. “It’s at the point now where I’ll take a chance. I won’t put more than $10 on it, though. I’m not that bad at math. I know the odds.”

The Mega Millions jackpot continues to roll after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Friday night - the white balls 3, 11, 12, 38 and 43, plus the gold Mega Ball 15.

The estimated $850 million jackpot would be the third-largest prize in American lottery history, below only two jackpots over a billion dollars: the world record Powerball jackpot of $1.586 billion on Jan. 13, 2016, and the current Mega Millions record of $1.537 billion on Oct. 23, 2018.

In the 35 drawings beginning Sept. 18, there have been more than 30.2 million winning tickets sold at all prize levels, including 49 worth $1 million or more. Those million-dollar prizes were won in 20 different states from coast to coast.

The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302,575,350, but that doesn’t keep people from dreaming.

“I can’t say I’d quit my job because I don’t know who is reading,” Eduardo Riley of Stroudsburg said, with a smile, while stopping for a ticket in Lehighton during his lunch break. “In all seriousness though, there are a lot of things I’d like to do. First, I’d take care of family and then I’d buy a boat. Maybe two of them. I’m a big fisherman.”

If nobody hits Tuesday’s Mega Millions jackpot, there is always tomorrow. Wednesday will be just the fourth time the Powerball jackpot has crossed the $700 million mark. It is the fourth largest jackpot in the game’s history and the sixth largest in U.S. lottery history.

“I’ve been playing a long time and it’s rare to have them (Mega Millions and Powerball) both this high at the same time,” Harry Davis, of Effort, said after buying a ticket at the Shell on Route 209 in Towamensing Township. “I won $12 last week, so I’m hoping that’s a sign of things to come. I would help my son and daughter-in-law pay off their mortgage. You can’t really plan any trips yet. There are a lot of people who need some help right now. No one person could possibly use all of that money.”

The Powerball jackpot was last hit in New York in the Sept. 16, 2020, drawing. Since then, there have been 35 drawings in a row without a jackpot winner. Wednesday’s drawing will be the 36th draw in the jackpot run - continuing what has been the longest streak without a jackpot winner in Powerball history.

There were a lot of big winners in the Saturday night drawing, including 14 tickets that matched all five white balls to win $1 million. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia. Two other tickets doubled the $1 million prize to $2 million by including the Power Play option for an additional $1. The $2 million-winning tickets were sold in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.