Businesses just across the Alabama/Florida line in the Panhandle saw increased traffic this week as the Mega Millions lottery reached $540 million and the Powerball jackpot hit $288 million.

Count Andalusia’s Kevin Byrd among those who hopes to hit it big after purchasing a lottery ticket in Laurel Hill, Fla., on Friday afternoon. In a steady stream of customers buying tickets, Byrd was one of the few willing to be identified.

Byrd said he doesn’t understand why he has to drive across state lines to purchase a lottery ticket.

“I feel like the State of Alabama is killing our economic system by sending us across state lines to play the lotto,” Byrd said. “It just doesn’t make sense to me that we have to take our money over the state lines. They are just wasting money that could be used to help our state out.”

The multi-state Mega Millions lottery drawing was last night; the Powerball drawing is tonight.