Last night’s drawing left Powerball enthusiasts on the edge of their seats as no ticket managed to match all six numbers drawn – white balls 11, 38, 41, 62, 65, and the red Powerball 15. However, the Power Play® multiplier of 3X added an extra layer of thrill to the proceedings.
This forthcoming jackpot marks the fourth largest in Powerball history and ranks among the top ten in U.S. lottery annals.
Drew Svitko, Chair of the Powerball Product Group and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Lottery, emphasized the increasing likelihood of a jackpot winner as the prize amount escalates. “As the jackpot swells, so does the probability of someone winning,” stated Svitko. “We expect to see more coverage of number combinations in Saturday’s drawing as more players buy tickets, and a portion of every ticket sale will stay in-state to support public programs and services.”
While the jackpot remained elusive, last night’s drawing did yield nine lucky winners who matched all five white balls, securing $1 million prizes each. Winning tickets were sold in various states, including California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Washington. Additionally, there were 64 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 17 tickets that won $150,000 prizes.
In the Double Play® drawing, a fortunate ticket holder from Florida clinched a $500,000 prize by matching all five black balls. The Double Play feature, available in select jurisdictions, offers players an additional opportunity to win cash prizes by matching their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing.
This ongoing jackpot run has etched its name in the annals of Powerball history as one of the longest streaks without a jackpot winner. The last Powerball jackpot was claimed on New Year’s Day in Michigan, making this Saturday’s drawing the 41st consecutive drawing without a jackpot winner, tying the game’s record.
Should a player emerge victorious in Saturday’s drawing, they will face the choice between an annuitized prize of approximately $1.23 billion or a lump sum payment of around $595.1 million, both subject to taxes. The annuity option entails one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, each increasing by 5%.
Powerball enthusiasts can purchase tickets for $2 per play in participating jurisdictions across the United States. With more than half of all proceeds from ticket sales remaining in the jurisdiction of purchase, Powerball continues to support local programs and services.
Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, with live streaming available on Powerball.com.
As excitement builds for the colossal jackpot, players nationwide are eagerly anticipating Saturday’s drawing, hoping to defy the odds and secure a life-changing windfall.
