DELTA, La. — Just across the Mississippi River, wannabe millionaires lined up to purchase what they hope will be the winning ticket for tonight’s Powerball drawing. The current estimated jackpot is $485 million with a $327.7 million cash payout.

“I’ve been playing the lottery for some time,” Diallo Shaba said, who drove over from Jackson to buy a ticket for a chance at the jackpot.

Shaba was not the only Mississippian who traveled across the bridge for a chance at millions. The parking lot at Delta Discount Wine and Spirits in Delta La. was packed with vehicles that had Mississippi tags — including tags from Warren County.

The Magnolia state allows for casinos up and down the river, on the Gulf Coast and at Native American Reservations, but it is still only one of six states that have not adopted the lottery.

“I come regularly to buy lottery tickets. It is a shame they won’t let Mississippi have a lottery,” said Joe Broadway of Jackson.

Richard Green from Brandon echoed Broadway’s sentiments.

“Mississippi should legalize the lottery. If people would lay the Bible down long enough we could have it,” Green said.

“Lottery tickets have become a significant source of funds for states, with just over $16 billion flowing through to state coffers in the most recent year. That’s about 2 percent to 3 percent of their total budgets,” said Victor Matheson, in an interview with CNN.com. Matheson is an economics professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

A quarter of the Powerball revenue goes to participating states with 60 percent being paid out in winnings, five to six percent goes to retailers who sell the tickets as commission and the remaining nine percent goes to administrative cost and advertising, Matheson said.

When playing the lottery, players have two options. They may choose to write in their own numbers or they may have their numbers automatically generated by choosing a quick pick option.

“I see more players using their own numbers,” said Casaybre Royal, a lottery cashier at the store.

Royal said she has not purchased a ticket for herself, but plans to before the drawing tonight.

Every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10 p.m., the Powerball drawing is held. A jackpot ticket will have all five numbers matching in any order along with the matching Powerball number.

Winning numbers are posted at www.louisianalottery.com, and even if one doesn’t win the Powerball they should check the ticket. Cash prizes are also awarded for eight more combinations.

Royal said despite the crowd, the lines for lottery tickets have been manageable.

Outside, Dale McDuff was working security in the parking lot.

“It’s been a steady stream of cars since last Thursday since the Powerball winnings jumped up, and it will last this way until someone wins,” he said.

Ronald Coleman was just passing through from Chicago and stopped in to see what was going on.

“I seen all the cars and I wanted to be nosey,” Coleman said.

After finding out why people were pulling into the Delta store, Coleman decided he would jump in line too and buy a chance to win millions.

In January, the Powerball turned three years old and each year it creates approximately 500 millionaires.

“If I win the Powerball ticket I would like to bless others. I would help my family and my church,” Yazoo City resident Silvoina Jones said.

“Ain’t no telling what I would do with all the money,” Broadway said.