But no one has claimed the $277 million jackpot for the December 12 draw, according to the Powerball website. As a result, the prize money will roll over to the next drawing on Thursday, December 17. The estimated jackpot then will be $287 million (with a cash value of $222.8 million).
Although no-one won the jackpot in Saturday’s draw, there were some big winners.
A player in Michigan matched five white balls correctly to win a $1 million prize. Another player in Florida also matched five white balls correctly but doubled their prize to $2 million, thanks to a Power Play purchase.
Fourteen players matched four white balls and the Powerball correctly to win $50,000 prizes. Another four doubled their prize money to $100,000 with a Power Play purchase.
The Powerball jackpot has not been won since September, according to the Powerball website.
The winning ticket, worth $94 million, in the September 16 draw was sold at Minogue’s Beverage located at 2421 Route 9 in Ballston Spa. The win reset the Powerball jackpot to $20 million.
Before that, the jackpot was won on August 12, when one lucky player in Florida matched all five white balls and the Powerball to scoop a massive $169 million payout.
How do you play Powerball?
Powerball is a hugely popular multi-state lottery that is available to play in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings usually take place twice a week on a Wednesday and Saturday night, at 10:59 p.m. ET. Each draw is broadcast live from the lottery studio in Tallahassee, Florida.
Each ticket costs $2 per play, with players selecting five numbers from 1 to 69, in addition to one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. In certain circumstances, players can also multiply non-jackpot prizes by using the Power Play option for an additional $1.
Why is the Powerball so low?
Powerball slashed its minimum payout in half from $40 million to $20 million with minimum roll increased of $2 million between drawings back in March because of the coronavirus pandemic leading to reduced sales, according to lottery officials.
Powerball Product Group Chairman and Maine Lottery Director Gregory Mineo said in a statement at the time: “Powerball players in many U.S. lottery jurisdictions are under shelter-in-place orders or recommendations, which have affected normal consumer behaviors.
Powerball’s official website claims that players have a 1 in 24.9 chance of winning any prize regardless of the number of participants. But the chances of winning the grand prize jackpot are astronomically higher at 1 in 292,201,338, according to the official website.
Winners can choose to either select their prize as an annuity, or for significantly less, a lump-sum payment. The annuity option sees the winner receive 30 annual payments over the space of 29 years, with each payment increasing by five percent until the 30th and final payment.
Your chances of hitting the grand prize jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338, regardless of the jackpot size, according to Powerball’s website. If you win a jackpot, call lottery officials at 1-800-222-0996.
