'You can't win if you don't play': People in Sask. cross the border hoping for Powerball win

With a record-high jackpot stacking up for the Powerball in the U.S., some Canadians are heading over the border to buy a ticket. But for those who can’t do that, a Regina company wants to help get them in on the action.

Mitch Blyth, chief operations officer of Carpe Diem Limousine, went to Plentywood, Montana Tuesday morning to a buy a Powerball ticket.

Now, the company has posted a photo of the ticket on their Facebook page. If they win the prize, the company is willing to share it with anyone who “likes” and “shares” their page.

“Two billion Canadian would certainly help Saskatchewan,” said Blyth.

As of Wednesday morning, Blyth said about 4,000 people were entered.

“It’s enough money to split between everybody, it still works out to over half a million dollars per person so far.”

You can’t win if you don’t play

During a Sunday lull, Evelyn from Regina also crossed the border to Plentywood where she and her fiance stopped in at the first convenience store they saw.

There, the couple dropped $100 on 50 Powerball tickets, and then they hit the VLTs.

Evelyn said they got lucky, walking away with $390 – enough to pay for the trip across and their tickets.

Despite the impossible odds Evelyn said “you can’t win if you don’t play”.

If she holds the winning ticket she plans to share her wealth.

“Oh, just make every body I know rich, and travel the world and have lots of fun.”

Jason Dueck made the trek across the border to buy his Powerball ticket on Wednesday, just a few hours before the draw.

He drove from Regina to Plentywood, Montana. Dueck said the crossing wasn’t very busy, and neither was the store. 

But why would he drive almost 190 kilometres for a Powerball ticket?

“It could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a billionaire overnight.”

Dueck isn’t letting the dismal odds of him winning the jackpot get him down either.

“You don’t have a chance if you don’t have a ticket right?” He said.

If Dueck wins the jackpot, he’s going to do the sensible thing first, and pay off his debt.

“Number two, I’m going to be taking a holiday – take the kids to probably Disney World for at least two months.”

He’s leaving the ticket in the U.S. with a relative so, if he wins, he won’t have any problems over importing the ticket.

The draw for the Powerball jackpot is Wednesday night.