As the Mega Millions jackpot soared to an estimated $1 billion, the game's sales in Arkansas rose to more than $1 million by Friday afternoon.
The Natural State has a recent history of selling lucky Mega Millions tickets.
On Monday, Timothy Burdess and Christina Vandiver won $3 million off a ticket purchased at the Corner Store at 307 N. Rock St. in Sheridan. Officials said the ticket was one number away from winning the $548 million jackpot.
And in 2017, 71-year-old Eliberto Cantu of Lubbock, Texas, won the $177 million Mega Millions prize after purchasing the ticket at the One Stop Valero on East 22nd Street in Stuttgart.
Lottery officials increased the grand prize — the second-largest in U.S. history — just hours ahead of the Friday night drawing. The prize climbed from $970 million.
In Arkansas, Mega Millions sales increased to $2,735,416 as of 7:47 p.m., according to figures lottery director Bishop Woosley posted on Twitter. Powerball sales in the state had also climbed to $619,112.
Although the jackpot keeps increasing, the odds of winning remain stuck at a miserable one in 302.5 million.
The prize has grown so large because no one has hit the jackpot since July 24, when a group in California won $543 million.
The $1 billion prize refers to the annuity option. Most winners opt for cash, which for Friday night's drawing would be $565 million.
Officials say that if there isn't a winner, the prize for Tuesday night's drawing would be $1.6 billion, tying the largest U.S. lottery prize.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
The Associated Press and Jaime Dunaway of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contributed to this story.