LOTTO: CHANCE AT BIG MONEY SEDUCTIVE

The lure of a multimillion dollar jackpot is attracting long lines of peopLe in Illinois.

Lines have been forming the past three days at the Purple Crackle Club in East Cape Girardeau, Ill., where people can buy chances at a $63 million jackpot in the Illinois lottery's Lotto.

The jackpot for tonight's drawing stood Tuesday night as the eighth largest in U.S. history and second largest in Illinois history. It could reach record proportions before ticket sales stop about 6:55 p.m. today.

The highest lottery in U.S. history was Pennsylvania's $115 million Super 7 Lotto drawing April 26, 1989. The largest prize in the Illinois Lotto was $69.9 million, which was split by four winners, also in April 1989. The largest Illinois jackpot won by a single player was $42 million on Aug. 26, 1989, and again on June 19, 1990.

"The figures are just mind-boggling," said Clint Halstead of Cape Girardeau, who participates in the Illinois lottery each week. "I usually play small amounts in both the Missouri and Illinois lotteries."

Halstead said he usually purchased "long-term" tickets so he wouldn't have to visit the lottery sales office each week.

"You can buy tickets up to 15 weeks in advance," he said. "But, with the larger amount of the jackpot, I decided to add to my long-term tickets with a few "short-term" tickets."

He said he had no idea what he would do with the money if he won the multimillion dollar jackpot.

"I have five children, and they would share in the winnings," he said. "I"m retired. I would play a lot of golf."

Another lottery ticket-buyer who wanted to remain anonymous said the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri would receive a new building if she won the lottery.

"The humane society and St. Jude's Hospital at Memphis are two of my main charities," said the buyer. "My children and church, would also share in the winnings."

L.R. Burgfeld of Cape Girardeau said he knows what he would do with the money. "I have three children and five grandchildren," he said. "I would set up trusts for them. I would also make large donations to my church, the Elks Club and Eagles Club.

"I also have some friends who would share in the winnings," he said.

Burgfeld said he selected most of the numbers on his tickets. He said he purchases lottery tickets almost every week.

The size of tonight's jackpot is bringing out a lot of first-time and occasional players.

"It's the size of the lottery that brought me here." said another player who wanted to remain anonymous. "Somebody has to win all that money and it might as well be me."

Illinois lottery officials boosted the jackpot for tonight's Lotto drawing to $63 million Tuesday morning following heavy activity at lottery sales offices throughout the state.

No one has won the Lotto grand prize since Sept. 14.

"By noon Tuesday we were on pace with our best Tuesday ever," said lottery spokesman Mike Lang. "The fever is here."

Lang said the heavy pace of ticket sales could push the pot even higher.

Clyde "Bud" Pearce, owner of the Purple Crackle, agreed.

"Record sales have been recorded in the state Sunday, Monday and Tuesday," he said. "Our Sunday sales here were not that great, but a consistent line has been present Monday and Tuesday. Lines started forming early both days and have been steady. We don't expect that to change today."

"The numbers are drawn at 7 p.m.," said Pearce. "We can sell until about five minutes before the drawing."

Pearce said he expected the final jackpot to top the record of $69.9 million.

He said about half of the tickets sales were "computer-picked" numbers.

"A lot of people are letting the computer select the numbers," he said. "But about half of them pick their own numbers."

The Crackle sold a $1-million-plus ticket a few years back.

"Someone picked the right numbers for a $1.2 million Lotto drawing," said Pearce. "But no one ever claimed the prize."