Big sales volume prompts early jackpot increase
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 $485 million.
The all-important lump-sum cash value of the jackpot has been raised to $327.7 million — still the 5th-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.
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$485 Million Woo Hoo
maybe one more roll, just one?.........if I dont win of course
When you use your imagination on these monster jackpots:
I get dizzy just looking at all those Benjamins but I will still not be buying an extra ticket however tempted I am.
I couldn't have put it better myself
Its always good when the cash value is running 67% of a jackpot this size....its all about the cash
I'm banking that at best it has one more roll in this Jackpot. But i also think we will have one more bump before tomorrow night. Jackpot ending somewhere around $510-$515million.
If no one wins tomorrow I wonder what the JP will be on Saturday the 14th...
05 11 16 26 50 / 01
If no one wins tomorrow, we potentially will have the largest U.S. Jackpot ever.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!
If I don't have a heart attack first from winning
$485 million might just be enough to start upping the size of my fast food combos.Would be surprised if it's still under $500 million by draw time.
Maybe extra guacamole on that burrito.
I'm guessing that even the MUSL people don't really have a good idea how big it will be. The biggest PB jackpot by cash value jumped $262 million from 325 to 587 for the annuity value. The advertised annuity value for current run went from 324.5 (final tally, originally advertised as 317) to 395.5, an increase of only $71 million. The cash value percentages are a bit different (65.5% then vs 67.6% now), but that's an 80% increase 27 months ago vs. a 22% increase now.
If this one tops out at 500 tomorrow and rolls an 80% increase would push it to $900 million (about 608 cash) the actual annuity increase of 262 would push it to $762 million. A 22% increase would only increase it to a relatively modest $610 million (a new PB record, though still shy of the MM record). Even in today's lottery market that has to be enough for a frenzy, but how big a frenzy?
someone will win this one tommorw thats for sure. i bought 6 dollars tickets, you dont nees to buy alot with so many ppl buying now.
It will break the 500m mark, last roll was 90.5m from 394.5m to 485m and it was changed twice in estimated values.
Lottery officials are challenged predicting jackpot size, but publicizing too accurate of an estimate early on can be counter-productive. I suspect the some of the jackpot revisions are intentional to drive sales. Seeing intermediate jackpot jumps gets people talking - this thread is a prime example.
Not surprised the jackpot jump was relatively small. $300 million annuity just doesn't excite players the way it once did. And doubling the price hasn't helped matters. Even $400ish million, while generating excitement, isn't a frenzy yet, though it's getting close. If it rolls Wednesday, then the frenzy will be on with $700+ million annuity to start, and likely rise to upwards of $900 million annuity, as you suggest. I'm not playing unless it rolls Wednesday, then I'll join the frenzy.
I think it was the " Pointer Sisters" that sang " I'm so excited, and l just can't hide it"
dont remember much else about the song but somewhere in there was " l know l want you, want you!"
whoo-hoo! so we need **12** winners so everyone has a chance to slip under the radar while still having enough to live... a-hem... comfortably.
YEAP..
I am ready to win the Powerball Wednesday !!
That's what second place is for, nobody pays any attention to them.
No mightwin-You have been away far too long. We thinking a dozen 1st place winners, and why the heck not!
Let's make it a FIRST- let's make History.