BILLINGS – Local convenience stores are preparing for what they know will be a busy Friday morning as Montana Millionaire tickets become available at 5:30 a.m.

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

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

One of the $3 million tickets was purchased in the Billings Heights at Town and Country Supply on Hilltop Road. Store manager Tammi Pritchett said they are preparing for 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 ecstatic to get their winning tickets here.”

Pritchett said it is usually busy every year and now that her store is considered lucky, it will likely be even busier.

“If it’s between 6 or 7 o’clock, make sure the lines go 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 additional, experienced help to keep customers moving through the line.

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

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

McFiny’s store clerk Tegan Almendinger said they are bracing for the crowds to arrive as soon as they open their doors Friday morning.

“I’m looking forward to the rush because it will spice things up a little bit,” Almendinger said. “We expect a long line of people and for it to move very quickly.”

And there’s plenty to be excited about this year. In addition to the four $1 million prizes, there is a $250,000 prize, as well as 2,300 prizes for $500 and 4,500 prizes for $100.

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

Aside from the excitement, 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 trouble because they printed the tickets in advance in an attempt to beat the crowds.

The owner of the McFiny’s store said he has had customers in recent days wanting to give him cash so they could reserve their tickets. That is also not allowed.

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

“My plan is to work as quickly as possible and still do it accurately,” Almendinger said.