The new year is starting like many of the past.... the need for Alabamians to take a quick drive into Florida. The Powerball did not have any winners on Saturday and the jackpot is now estimated to be over $810 million dollars.

If you were to pickup a winning ticket, the estimated "cash" value of winning the drawing on January 1st, is $408.9 million. Yes, you could take the choice of annual payments worth $810 million which starts with one immediate payment, and the get remaining payments over 29 years, increasing by 5% each year.

So now there are TWO reasons people will be around the Flora-Bama on January 1st. The first will be the 40th Polar Bear Dip and the second will be to pick up some lottery tickets.

Alabama is one of the last states to not have a lottery and residents visit surrounding areas to participate. Any lottery in the State of Alabama would require the state to rewrite its constitution.

So you can start the new year with a quick trip to Florida for lottery tickets, you can bet your friend from Michigan for the Rose Bowl, or you can relax Monday and be thankful we already live in paradise.