For those playing to win the biggest jackpot in US lottery history, the only numbers possibly more important than the now almost $950 million prize were announced Saturday night.
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Lottery officials say the estimated $1.3 billion prize is not just the largest in the United States, but in the world. All six numbers must be correct to win, although the first five can be in any order.
“It’s insane how big this jackpot is”, said Alex Traverso, a spokesman for the California Lottery, confirming that the current Powerball prize was record setting. Non-jackpot prizes totaled about $159 million in Saturday’s drawing, according to Powerball.
While the $1.3 billion is by far the largest ever up for grabs in North America, Spain’s latest elGordo lottery, or “The Fat One”, had a prize pool of $2.4 billion prize.
“I bought four yesterday, and I usually never buy any”, said Smith, manager of Bucky’s gas station and convenience store in Omaha, Nebraska. A few hours before the drawing, the Texas Lottery reported that $5,838,152 in Powerball tickets were sold in a one-hour period. “Usually on a Friday, we might sell $1,200 worth”.
It hit $700 million on Thursday after nobody won on Wednesday night – the 18th drawing without a victor.
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The Powerball is operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association, a group of 34 state lotteries as well as lotteries in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
