By Todd Northrop
Only once before has the United States — or the world — witnessed a lottery-buying frenzy like we are seeing this week.
That was in March, when the multi-state Mega Millions game was busy setting a record for the largest jackpot in world history.
This time it's Powerball's turn to make people stop what they're doing and line up for lottery tickets.
Powerball tickets are being bought at such a rapid pace that the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), which operates the Powerball game, has raised the jackpot estimate an additional $75 million before the drawing takes place Wednesday night.
Who knows, it may even get raised again Wednesday before the drawing.
Early Sunday morning, just after midnight Eastern Time, USA Mega announced the new record Powerball jackpot of $425 million after nobody won in the Saturday evening drawing.
Now, just two days later, the jackpot estimate for Wednesday's Powerball drawing has been raised to $500 million, with a lump-sum cash option of $327.4 million.
That's an increase of $175 million from the Satuday jackpot of $325 million. And yet, the jackpot will probably be even higher by the time the drawing occurs at 10:59 pm Eastern Time (7:59 pm Pacific Time) tomorrow night.
Surely, tickets are being sold at such a rapid pace that the vast majority of all possible number combinations are being covered — multiple times for many combinations — but one still has to ask: what if just one person wins $327 million in cash? It's hard for most people to even picture a number that large, let alone manage that much cash.
Perhaps more interesting to imagine is, what if nobody wins Wednesday?
Lottery players seeking to check the winning numbers Wednesday night are urged to use USA Mega (www.usamega.com). State lottery Web sites are normally brought to a standstill during busy periods, while USA Mega normally remains responsive.
Powerball drawing results will be posted immediately after the 10:59 pm drawing at USA Mega. The number of winners and new jackpot will be announced after all participating Powerball states have reported their data, which normally occurs within a couple of hours after the drawing.
Tickets will remain on sale typically until 10:45 pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, although players should check with a lottery retailer in their state for the exact sales cutoff time. Players are advised not to wait until the last minute.
The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 175 million. The odds of winning any of the Powerball prizes are approximately 1 in 32.
Lottery players can see an after-tax analysis of the current Powerball jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Jackpot Analysis page.
Powerball features nine different prize levels, ranging from $4 all the way up to the jackpot. Players can win even if they just match one number — the Powerball number.
States also offer the Power Play option for an extra dollar per ticket purchased. The Power Play multiplies any non-jackpot prizes won by a fixed amount, depending on the prize level won.
Players who purchase the Power Play and win second prize will automatically have their prize increased by 2x to $2 million.
That's crazy
"This time it's Powerball's turn to make people stop what they're doing and line up for lottery tickets."
Todd INCLUDED!
2nd sweet Jesus
Only HALF a billion...... pikers...........
I picked up another "Donald classic" today on my journeys, ..This brings my total lines to 22............
I've always wanted to be a half billionaire.
A one billionaire is just too much money, one half is just right!
This is the Goldilocks of lottery jackpots.
Perhaps by tomorrow you can be a 3/4 billionaire???
I did a reverse Donald, 3 QP + 1 self pick, then did 4 manual QP (let my hand do the pickin quickly). But I'm not sharing. I'm selfish and greedy.
That would simply be too much.
The remaining $250 million would go to Ronnie316, for his outstanding accomplishments here on the LP forum threads.
I love it when you talk dirty..........
I picked three sets of numbers. One set I have been using for awhile and then two sets are from the lottery post quick pick generator. Then I QPed three sets of numbers. So 50/50 on the sets picked and I think that is a good amount of numbers. Hoping for the big time!-weshar75
Coming from a mentor who's achieved the lofty status of "experienced" that means so much to me.
1. If you want to be a half-billionaire you'd better hope the jackpot gets raised to about $910 million.
2. Don't you mean this is the porridge of lottery jackpots? Or the bed? Probably the latter, because who wouldn't want to roll around naked in half a billion dollars?
WOW!!!!!!!!!
From the infamous words of Jimmy Hendrix "Are You Experienced"?
I would have to say not at this time. In title only. But thank you for the suggested inference.
Powerball's increases suck. lol Why is it that Mega Millions cost less but they are much more generous with increases?
Porridge or beds would be fine, I just like to say Goldilocks name!
I think the biggest reason why this jackpot hasn't raised as much is because, there's no california in the pot..
Now that they increased it to 500 million and they think that most of the combinations will be selected I guess I will go throw a few more dollars at this and choose two of my own numbers since most of my tickets are Quick picks and only one self pick so far.
no worry God loves a cheerful giver
I will not buy a single ticket....
i freaking Knew it be 500m
my quote form 425 thread:
" lotto fever is back and there no telling how high this pupply will fly before drawing time
500+ million easy i say by draw time"
easy indeed,
we only had 2 jackpots get above 300m,and when they hit 400m mark for so called next roll, , they speed past 400m, Way freaking Past the first guest of lotteries.
if jackpots could talk
this one be saying : what u think this is, a school zone? am going right thro your 400m zone, by like a lot....... "speeds past 400m sign"
glad to see lotto fever is strong with this one
2 major record breaking jackpots this year 2012 has been Great
i agree with tod thro, so many people are playing same numbers, i say its less then a 5% chance it rolls
but if it does, holy hell we will see monster of all time appear , everyone wallets should be scared of this small chance.
all in all i say around 540m by draw time, am thinkin lottery guest is good one now that they had 2 days of sales to base this New guest off
they always understate it a lot
sense there sure no telling spot on with these monsters jackpots form hell
, there way to much money to take a guest and be anywhere close by 40m or so, so they downplay it.
so 540m sounds about sweet spot come draw time.
212,550,000 cash atfer the 35% Full tax bill,
212m after fed taxes, my god, u be flying your own g6 around
and to poor folks in CA, you state is last one not joining PB
how does it feel now, CA ,want to join now, i bet u do, and i bet your lottery ceo going <snip> it now too :P
people this is more then life changin, this is right up there with "rules? ,screw the rules i have money! that's what this amount of money does
ever thing poor people do, u do without the bull<snip>
no tsa touching your junk, no govt pushing u around. u are a god unto your self, as your money does talking for u.
No just ten.
Liar!
No I did not lie...I bought multiple tickets, so that was a true statement. I want to join that 1%, and then jump ship from USA...I hear there are some Caribbean islands, East Asian and African countries a seeking wealthy expats. Cash value of course! So really it is just less than 230 million after Obama's I.R.S. hit squad get their fair share.
Why even China might welcome me with open arms!
Multiple personalities?
Priests and nuns are playing so I know every LP member will be in on this one even where it requires a road trip. Before 2009 I drove from Florida to GA for far smaller Jackpots.
The $425 million thread had 423 replies to date, wonder how long before this thread exceeds that.
Hey 3 people this year alone involved in some clean up activity won Jackpots. I'm here wondering if I can parlay that into success this Wednesday.