"I have a system and keep track on my computer at home," said Johnson, 28, of Macomb Township. "I've won enough that I can keep playing. I'm going to write a book when I hit the big one."

Johnson is among thousands of Macomb County residents jamming party stores to buy tickets for a chance to win the Mega Millions multistate lottery jackpot of $290 million. The jackpot may hit $300 million by today's 11 p.m. drawing that will be broadcast live from Times Square in New York.