According to the Powerball website, some winners will take home $1 million or $2 million (before tax) because they had five of the six winning numbers (the $2 million winners paid a little more for the “power play” option).
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In the previous drawing on Wednesday night, the jackpot stood at $500 million and nobody won, setting the stage for this latest drawing just before 11 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Illinois Lottery officials say the jackpot for Powerball has been increased to $900 million before tonight’s scheduled drawing.
That was exactly what lottery officials hoped for last fall when they bumped up the odds from a mere one in 175 million, spurring ever higher jackpots by making it harder to win the larger amounts.
If no player hit all six numbers, the payout to Wednesday’s drawing is expect to hit $1.3 billion, Traverso said. Get your free line for the biggest lottery jackpot in history.
If someone buys a Powerball ticket in Pennsylvania and wins millions in the record jackpot, it won’t be the first time. The ideas are endless, but you have to play to win and have to be the lucky one in 300 million.
“At this point, Friday we were at about $4 million”. Check back with CBS New York for the winning numbers.
The Powerball jackpot has increased to $900 million just hours before the drawing. Because at least check, $81 million can buy you more than enough yachts to water-ski behind, to quote the great Bud Fox. For players who are only drawn in with extreme jackpots, Lustig has one tip.
The payout is based on sales so the prize has grown more quickly as people rush to buy tickets.
As of midday Saturday, the jackpot reached $900 million.
The soaring windfall is fueled by record ticket sales: The bigger prizes draw more players, who in turn make the jackpots even bigger.
One statistician warned ticket buyers not to get too excited, comparing the odds of winning, one in 292 million, to counting the drops of water in the ocean, or grains of sand in the world. “We’re seeing long lines at retail locations across the state”, Traverso said.
“I want to purchase the victor”, she laughed, lining up to buy her ticket.
Places such as the Super K convenience store near the corner of Pine Hills Road and Colonial Drive have been more popular than ever as the jackpot has multiplied.
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Towne Market on Bergen Boulevard is one of the many stores that sell Powerball tickets. While all winners pay the same federal income taxes to start with – 25 percent for US citizens with a Social Security or tax ID number, and 28 percent if the victor doesn’t have one or is a foreign citizen – and then it continues to grow.
