Mega Millions players hoping Chino Hills Powerball lotto luck rubs off on them

CHINO HILLS >> Chino Hills is definitely eaing a rep — as a place to buy lottery tickets.

They were lining up again Friday, this time for the third largest Mega Millions drawing in its history (that’s since 2004 if you’re keeping track). The jackpot for Friday’s drawing was estimated to hit $415 million. Those in line were hoping lightning would strike twice.

“I remembered that in Chino Hills there was a wiing ticket, and so I Googled the location,” said Rosa Ortiz of La Puente, in town for a dentist appointment.

She was speaking at the 7-Eleven at 4092 Chino Hills Parkway, which sold a wiing ticket in the world’s largest drawing of all time, a Powerball contest drawn Jan. 13.

But is it really lucky? So far, the wier — one of three who shared a $1.5 billion jackpot — hasn’t come forward.

“We’re still waiting,” said Alex Traverso, spokesman for the Califoia Lottery.

The mystery wier still has six months to claim the prize. Otherwise, he or she is really unlucky. Meanwhile, the two other wiers, in Teessee and Florida, both opted to take a one-time payment of $327.8 million.

Then there’s the other unspoken question: Does lightning actually hit twice?

If the lightning is the lottery, the answer is yes. The state has 86 lottery retailers, which have sold at least two $1 million tickets.

“In San Lorenzo, Kavanaugh Liquors, they’ve sold five jackpot wiing tickets,” Traverso said.

Ten have sold at least three $1 million-or-more tickets, according to a database the Califoia Lottery maintains. The lotto “king” is in Port Hueneme, Allans Market Wine & Lotto, which has sold six tickets worth $1 million or more.

And here’s the good news for everyone trekking to Chino Hills: 26 of the 86 on the “lucky retailer” list are 7-Elevens.

Like Powerball, Mega Millions is a multistate drawing. The last time the Mega Millions jackpot hit was March 8, when Michael Burkett won $157 million after matching all six numbers on a ticket he purchased in Seattle. The last time a Califoian won the Mega Millions jackpot was Aug. 22, 2014. Rick Knudsen claimed the $180 million prize from a ticket he purchased in Calimesa.

Those in line at Chino Hills did a little dreaming.

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Ortiz said she would “probably travel, definitely support my family and give a percentage to charity and go back to school and get my master’s degree.”

John Rivera of Chino Hills came to the 7-Eleven during his break from work. He said the majority of his wiings would go toward getting out — “and family.”

Family was a theme in the responses.

“I’d give it to my daughter and son and enjoy life. I’m too old now,” Chino Hills resident Margarita Ayala said with a smile.