$1 and a Dream Fuels Mega Millions Rush

The never-ending line of customers inside Big Top Packaging Depot in Harrison started early Friday morning and is expected to last well into the night. The scene was the same at Harrison Food Mart and .

Everyone, it seams, wants their shot at the estimated $640 million Mega Millions jackpot.

"It's a steady constant flow, it's just been crazy," said Chet Remsen, manager of Bog Top Packaging in the Claremon Shopping Center, "a little insane at times."

Remsen said the lines have been there every day this week and have increased as the drawing approaches. The store sold about $5,000 in Mega Millions tickets on Thursday alone.

The 42-state lottery has grabbed the nation's attention throughout the week. Americans bought enough $1 tickets Thursday to push the jackpot up $100 million in one day.

Stores are expecting a last minute push before closing time Friday evening. Big Top Packaging will stay open an extra hour in preparation for the last minute rush.

The record-high lottery has also brought in more casual lottery players throughout the last few days. Remsen said he has had to teach a lot of customers how to play after they walked in asking for Mega Millions tickets. The same thing has been happening at Harrison Food Mart, where Sam Lorenzo said a wide variety of people have stopped by to play.

"It's been really busy just for the lotto," Lorenzo said. "You'll see people you don't even think would play."

Although the odds of hitting the jackpot sit at about 1 in 176 million, a little strategy never hurts. Customers are also buying tickets at different locations in hopes of capturing the big prize. Lorenzo said he had a customer spend $300 on tickets Thursday only to come back Friday to spend another $100.

"He said he's been all over and spent over $1,000 so far," said Lorenzo. "I guess you never know."