Powerball takes business from Alabama gas stations

While gas stations in the United States are raking benefits from consumers’ buying frenzy over the Powerball lottery tickets, those in Alabama are not getting the same consequences. Lottery is banned in the Yellowhammer state and Alabamians have to cross state borders to buy tickets, reported abc3340.com.

Gas stations in Georgia are the ones benefitting from the Alabama prohibition as many people buy tickets there in the hopes of winning up to $1.5 billion dollars, the largest lottery jackpot ever in the United States.

Lottery is also prohibited in the states of Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, and Utah for religious or economic reasons, according to The Christian Science Monitor.

Some Alabama legislators, however, are still open to the idea of instituting the numbers game in the state as it could give additional revenue to the government and would eventually benefit the people.

For Chevron employee Leann Smith, having lottery in the state would help local businesses. Every time people purchase tickets at gas stations, she said, they tend to buy snacks and refuel.