Cortlandt Gets Powerball Fever As Prize Hits $600 Million

WESTCHESTER, N.Y. -- Lottery registers across the county saw heavy traffic Friday as the national Powerball jackpot reached $600 million.

Power Ball fever spread in Peekskill and Cortlandt as the jackpot reached $600 million.
Photo Credit: *Art Cusano*

by Art Cusano

05/17/2013 4:00 p.m.

Saturday's drawing will be held at around 11 p.m. and will broadcast on most local networks.

In Peekskill, Panio Wine and Spirits owner David Pachianna said business always sees a big boost whenever jackpots get large enough.

"It's another frenzy of Powerball buyers," Pachianna said. "We get a lot of people who normally wouldn't buy them."

Lottery sales increase between 30 and 40 percent when Powerball jackpots skyrocket, Pachianna said.

"What happens is you get a lot of people who team up and want to be partners since you can divide it a lot of ways and everyone still ends up with a significant amount of money," he said.

In Cortlandt, Dilia Gonzalez of the Gonza Deli and Grill on Route 202 said that her store has seen business take off since lotto machines were installed.

We just installed the machines Tuesday, so right now we're doing very good," Gonzalez said.

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