Powerball lottery officials are expecting more than $400 million in ticket sales on Saturday alone thanks to the jackpot soaring to $900 million.
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The Powerball jackpot has grown to $1.5 billion as of Tuesday morning after a series of 19 drawings in which no one picked the lucky combination – and the jackpot grew.
If no one matches all five numbers plus the Powerball for Wednesday’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow.
The record jackpot lured an unprecedented frenzy of purchases.
Lottery agents say that about 70% of Powerball players use auto lotto rather than filling out a game card and picking their own numbers.
“So far today, players have bought more than 1 million tickets”, he said. It’s sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Only three Powerball jackpot tickets have been sold in the state since it began participating in the game in 2010. If a victor is not selected Wednesday night, the jackpot prize will get even bigger for the next drawing on Saturday evening. The best times to purchase a ticket, according to the lottery, are before 10:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m.
ESTEM High School math teacher, Mark O’Laughlin, said while the odds remain the same no matter the jackpot, with so many new faces playing, be prepared to share if you do win.
With all those lesser prizes added to the mix, buyers of 39 million tickets have won $349 million in prize money since November.
Winners of the top prize are paid in 30 annual installments or as a one-time, lump sum payment.
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Because of the lottery, Colla says he is seeing a lot of new faces at the counter. If the victor, or winners, elect to receive the one-time cash equivalent, the State of Idaho would receive a almost $70 million windfall.
