Melanie McCreary of Altoona visits the Nic’s Grab-n-go on California Avenue in Altoona to play lottery games such as PowerBall and Mega Millions. Mirror photo by Cati Keith

The world’s ninth-largest lottery prize was up for grabs Monday night, tempting players to spend a couple dollars on a long shot at instant riches.

The Powerball jackpot — an estimated $1.04 billion — would go a long way toward paying off debt, cushion a retirement or allow for some great vacations, players said.

John Hollingshead, buying tickets in Altoona, said that he would retire if he won but admitted the odds are long.

“You are more likely to be struck by lightning than win the PowerBall,” he said pragmatically.

But on the off chance he wins, he would go on some trips — especially to Hawaii — and buy a vacation home.

Hollingshead was purchasing about 27 tickets with a group from work, though that really won’t improve his odds of winning, as the odds remain at 1 in 292.2 million, lottery officials said.

Also playing with a group, Beth Abraham of Altoona said if the UPMC Altoona cardiology department won, some would probably retire, take vacations or build a house.

“We just keep playing until we win,” she said.

If she wins, though, a vacation would be in order, Abraham said.

“I love islands — I would love to go to the Cayman Islands where my husband and I went on our honeymoon,” she said.

Melanie McCreary of Altoona said if she were to win the grand prize, she would take care of her parents and her daughter.

“I like dogs, so I would donate a significant amount to organizations that help them,” she said.

Cheri Beard of Duncansville said she buys PowerBall tickets when the prize gets high, but only one or two a week.

“We are not big players,” she said.

Beard said if she won the big prize someday, helping family and friends in need would be at the top of her list.

The same is true of Sandy Cogan of Duncansville, who said she could do a lot of good with a big prize.

“I would make sure to help people in need,” she said, “especially the elderly.”

Monday’s jackpot was the fourth-largest in Powerball history and if no ticket matches all five white balls and the Powerball, that jackpot will continue to climb. The jackpot was last hit on July 19, lottery officials said.

Because of the huge jackpot, players across the nation headed to the store to take their chances.

“If I could win it, I’d be the happiest person in the world,” said Chevy Johnson, who was buying Powerball tickets Monday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Hector Griffith, also in Fort Lauderdale, said that if he won, his priority would be taking care of his family.

“It would change my life, completely change my life,” Griffith said. “I can’t wait to win it.”

Donnie Ross, a gas station clerk in New Hope, Minnesota, said when the prize grew so large for a recent jackpot that topped $1 billion, some customers spent hundreds of dollars on tickets.

“We had a huge bunch of people coming in right at the last minute to buy all their tickets before the drawing happened,” Ross said.

The $1.04 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to receive the winnings through an annuity, paid annually over 30 years. Winners nearly always pick the cash option, lottery officials said, which for Monday night’s drawing was an estimated $478.2 million.

Powerball is played in

45 states as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.