Insane scenes over $200m Powerball

Insane queues are being seen before an eye-watering $200 million draw in the biggest-ever Powerball jackpot.

Insane queues are being seen before an eye-watering $200 million draw in the biggest-ever Powerball jackpot.

“It’s the highest it’s ever been,” Youssef Tannoury who manages a tobacconist in Cranebrook, in Sydney’s west, said. “Everyone wants to win $200 million.”

Mr Tannoury’s store sold a winning ticket as part of a three-way jackpot win in 2022.

He said he hoped there would be a shared win again for tonight’s prize.

“It makes more people happy, more than one winner,” he said as his store was full of excited customers. “You see the smiles today but I’m not sure about tomorrow,”

The Lott anticipates thousands of entries per minute will be sold online as players rush to grab a ticket before the draw closes tonight.

A Reddit user who posted the huge line at their local outlet said they wanted a physical ticket for their first time betting.

Melton Tatts shop Phong Thai people queuing to buy tickets to Thursday's draw. Picture: Jason Edwards

Long queues seen ahead of the jackpot Picture: Reddit.

Another user said they prefer getting their Powerball numbers through the app, as it was “a pain” to get to the newsagent.The Lott spokeswoman Anna Hobdell said a range of emotions unfold when someone answers the phone to be told they are a winner.

A record $200 million Powerball Jackpot is up for grabs tonight

“Behind every winning lottery call, there’s a person on the other end of the line with a story to tell. It’s a privilege to be part of these life-changing moments that can redefine someone’s life,” she said.

“Securing a significant lottery win frequently evokes genuine tears of joy, astonished gasps, or even momentary stunned silence.

“Winning a slice of the record-breaking $200 million Powerball prize would be a phone call to remember for eternity and would undoubtedly change your life for many decades to come.”

A record $200 million Powerball Jackpot is up for grabs tonight. Picture: The Lott

The peak of sales for last week’s $150 million Powerball draw was at 6:15pm on the day of the draw with 7,445 tickets sold in a single minute.

Up to half of Australian adults are expected to have an entry into the draw tonight.

Tickets into the $200 million Powerball draw can be purchased at any licensed lottery outlet, online from thelott.com or via The Lott mobile app before the draw closes at 7.30pm AEST on Thursday.