Billings convenience stores are gearing up for Montana Millionaire ticket sales

BILLING – Local convenience stores are preparing for what they know will be a busy Friday morning as Montana Millionaire tickets become available at 05.30

The statewide lottery has 500,000 tickets up for grabs this year with four million dollar prizes and thousands of chances for smaller prizes.

Tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Last year, the 380,000 tickets were sold out in approximately five hours.

One of the three million dollar tickets was purchased in Billings Heights at Town and Country Supply on Hilltop Road. Store manager Tammi Pritchett said they are gearing up for what should be a busy morning.

“It’s exciting,” Pritchett said Thursday morning. “We have people lined up. I open the doors at 5:30 and people are just thrilled to buy their winning tickets here.”

Pritchett said it’s usually crowded in any given year, and now that her store is considered lucky, it’s likely to be even more crowded.

“When it gets between six or seven, then you get the cows going really well all the way to the back of the store,” Pritchett said. “We’ve had people come in and say, ‘Hey, we’re coming here this year.'”

Pritchett said she was already planning to bring in extra, experienced help to keep customers moving through the line.

“We brought in a girl from last year that was here and she knows how to run the lotto,” Pritchett said. “So it has to be quick and done smoothly.”

Town and Country Supply isn’t the only Billings store to get lucky. McFiny’s on 17th Street West has sold the winning ticket on two separate occasions.

McFiny’s store employee Tegan Almendinger said they are preparing for the crowd to arrive as soon as they open their doors Friday morning.

“I’m looking forward to the hustle because it will make things a little more exciting,” Almendinger said. “We expect a large number of people and that it will be very quick.”

And there is plenty to look forward to this year. On top of the four $1 million prizes, there is a $250,000 prize as well as 2,300 $500 prizes and 4,500 $100 prizes.

“I think it’s good for the state of Montana to have something like this so we can have our own lottery,” Pritchett said.

Excitement aside, it’s important to make sure you follow the rules if you plan to test your luck. You must be present when your ticket is printed. Last year, several stores ran into problems printing the tickets ahead of time in an attempt to beat the rush.

The owner of the McFiny’s store said that for the past few days he has had customers give him cash so they could reserve their tickets. It is also not allowed.

So do your best to be patient as stores prepare for their busiest day of the year.

“My plan is just to work as fast as I can while still doing it accurately,” Almendinger said.