Beaufort's "Lucky Store" is Hopeful Spot of Mega Millions Lucky Ticket

By: Holly Bounds | WSAV-TV
Published: February 10, 2010

You can yell "jackpot" double time in South Carolina now! Since January 31st, Mega Millions has joined Powerball as a powerhouse jackpot game sold in the Palmetto State.

Julius Beasley had a big game plan on his Tuesday visit to the Port Royal BP.

"I'm getting ready to play to play ten dollars, Mega Millions, and I'm going to win on my birthday today,” Beasley said.

There's truly round-the-clock lottery excitement at the Port Royal BP, so it's no surprise customers are getting right in the game. It’s another opportunity for them to make it big at what's been dubbed “the lucky store.”

"Because people just keep winning here,” Beasley said.

Sure, the more you play the better your odds. And that's no different from the perspective of owner, Shree. The more he sells - the more he wins, too. Seven cents on every dollar and a one percent incentive for a winning ticket valued at $10,000 or more. It's a system that's motivated him so much, when it comes to selling lottery games- he's the seventh highest retailer in the state!

"He has gotten several checks, that helps, we're waiting on him to sell a Powerball ticket or a Mega Millions ticket to just boost it up a little bit more,” SC Lottery’s Mike Soper said.

While there are no hard numbers out there yet, lottery officials say Mega Millions is off to a great start. Mix the excitement of a new game with a smart-minded salesman-

"This is the lucky place to be with me and my man "spree,” Beasley said.

And Beaufort could soon have a big winner.

The big-time winners are South Carolina students. Since the lottery's inception in 2002 -- the General Assembly has appropriated more than 2.2 billion dollars toward education. Lottery officials anticipate Mega Millions will add millions more to that.