Powerball Jackpot Now $500M

U-Stop convenience store cashier Janice Mitzner handles a lottery ticket in Lincoln, Neb., today. The U-Stop store was where the biggest Powerball pot on record — $365 million — was bought by Dung Tran in 2006 on behalf of eight Lincoln, Neb., co-workers. Earlier Tuesday Mitzner sold 22 powerball tickets to Tran. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The record Powerball jackpot is now even bigger. Powerball officials say they’ve boosted the jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing to $500 million from the previously posted $425 million. Huge ticket sales nationally are pushing the payout higher. A single winner choosing the cash payout will take home $327 million before taxes. Record jackpots encourage players who usually sit on the sidelines to play and group purchases from work pools increase/ KHQ . More here.

Question: Do you play the lottery regularly — or only when jackpot becomes ha-huge?