Now 4th-largest cash value in history
By Todd Northrop
Due to larger than expected sales volume, the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) has raised the official Powerball lottery jackpot estimate for Wednesday's drawing to $425 million.
The all-important lump-sum cash value of the jackpot has been raised to $244.7 million — now the 4th-largest cash jackpot ever offered in a United States lottery.
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.
Powerball tickets cost $2 each.
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.
All states except California also offer the Power Play option for an extra $1 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 is Good NewsRoll on PB
I hope I hit 5 of 6 with or without powerball. I already added the powerplay so it don't matter to me. Goodluck everybody!
WTG, I always add the PP, MP also.
Rollin Rollin Rollin
Keep movin, movin, movin
You sir are not gonna regret it the day your numbers decide to try you. Goodluck!
Roll Columbia, won't you roll,roll roll,
roll Columbia, won't you roll,roll, roll.
W/apologies to Woody Guthrie.
Goodluck to you as well.
Keep the JPs movin, LMAO
I like that picture. Reminds me of how once I win, I'll literally pile my bed with millions and dive and jump in it. Come on, you know you have always wanted to do that.
will it move to 450 by the draw tomorrow?
Get a load of this.
or this choose wisely.
like uncle scrooge from duck tails,
I don't think so. They achieved what they wanted.
The PB modus operandi with large jackpots seems to be:
- be very conservative on the initial estimate
- then on the day before the draw, put up the *real* estimate (to get more buzz and steal MM's thunder)
Remember last time they overshot, they said $600M but ended up being only $590M.
There's more than math going on here, there's also Marketing.