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Powerball Jackpot Climbs To $700 Million

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Powerball jackpot has increased to $700 million, making it the second largest in U.S. history.

Lottery officials raised the expected jackpot Tuesday, pushing it past a $656 million Mega Millions jackpot won in 2012 by three people.

The prize for Wednesday's drawing has grown so massive because it's been more than two months since a jackpot winner, on June 10. The prize remains far less than the record $1.6 billion prize won by three people in January 2016.

"My brain can't even comprehend that kind of cash," customer Seth Auerbach told CBS2's Jessica Borg.

The latest $700 million prize refers to the annuity option, paid over 29 years. The cash option would be $443.3 million.

Sandeep Jain owns a convenience store in Forest Hill, Queens, which he says has been bustling for days.

"Every second they're coming to buy the Powerball," he said.

"I'd buy an island," Auerbach added.

"I would definitely gift my children something," first-time player and mother of six, Leslie Mendez, said. "For me, I would just go on an island. I probably would buy an island."

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot is one in 292.2 million.

In Astoria, Vitale Duychman bought five tickets.

"I buy house. Give the nation, some people. That's it," he said.

Tayesseia Samuels has dreams of opening up a hair salon.

"Definitely start my business, own a home, a nice car for me and my kids," she said.

Jain said he previously sold smaller winnings of $1,000. He believes this jackpot could put him on the map.

"Hopefully this store will be a famous store," he said.

The store that sells the winning ticket gets a flat fee of $10,000. But lottery officials say big winners often throw in a very large tip.

Powerball is played in 44 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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