Powerball has reached $1.4 billion for the 33rd time in a row.
The Staggering Jackpot Soars to $1.4 Billion Unveiling the Powerball Phenomenon
In a remarkable turn of events, the Powerball lottery has embarked on its 33rd consecutive drawing without a jackpot winner, leading to an astonishing jackpot escalation, now towering at an astounding $1.4 billion.
A Whopping Cash Prize of $643.7 Million
An Opportunity Like No Other
The fortunate recipient of this colossal prize will have the option to claim a lump-sum payment, a staggering $643.7 million in hard cash. This amount surpasses the half-billion-dollar threshold. Brace yourselves for the next drawing on October 7th. As of now, Saturday’s Powerball jackpot stands as the third-largest in history and ranks fifth among the all-time largest jackpots in the United States.
A Year of Billion-Dollar Jackpots
A Record-Shattering Trend
The year 2023 has witnessed a historic surge in lottery jackpots, with four instances of prizes surpassing the billion-dollar mark, including two in the Mega Millions and two in the Powerball.
Unprecedented Back-to-Back Billion-Dollar Prizes
A Turning Point in Powerball History
In an unprecedented twist of fate, the Powerball game has seen back-to-back jackpot cycles yielding billion-dollar grand prizes. A press release from Lottery Executive Director Eric Hagler underscores this remarkable occurrence. “This marks the first instance in Powerball history where consecutive jackpot cycles have generated billion-dollar grand prizes,” said Hagler. The previous Powerball jackpot was claimed on July 19th, amounting to a staggering $1.08 billion. There have been 32 straight lotteries since then with no top-prize winner.
The Online Ticket Purchase Revolution
Changing the Lottery Landscape
A recent survey points to the surge in Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots, attributing this meteoric rise to the convenience of online ticket purchases and the introduction of an additional drawing day.
Unveiling the Winning Combination
The Key to a $1.2 Billion Fortune
For the October 4th drawing, the winning numbers were 9, 35, 54, 63, and 64, with the Powerball number being 1, and the Power Play number set at 2. These numbers held the potential to turn someone into an instant millionaire.
Double Play: A Shot at $10 Million
A Game-Changing Opportunity
Wednesday’s Double Play drawing unveiled the numbers 12, 30, 39, 64, 67, and Powerball 22. This unique Double Play feature is available in 14 states, offering participants a chance to substantially boost their winnings, with a potential payout of up to $10 million for just a $1 bet.
Millionaires Emerge, Despite the Elusive Jackpot
Celebrating $1 Million Victories
While the monumental jackpot remained unclaimed, ten fortunate players managed to secure a generous windfall of $1 million each by matching the initial five numbers in Wednesday’s draw. Two of these lucky winners hailed from California, with each set to receive a princely sum of $1,220,123.
Power Play Magic: Doubling the Winnings
A Clever Wager Strategy
Three savvy players opted for the Power Play option, adding an extra dollar to their bets and effectively doubling their winnings to a substantial $2 million. These winning tickets were purchased in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
The Joy of Secondary Wins
A Consolation for Many
In Wednesday’s drawing, an impressive 94 tickets managed to secure monetary rewards by correctly matching four white numbers and the Powerball, granting each holder a $50,000 prize. Notably, 13 of the 94 winners had chosen the Power Play feature, effectively doubling their earnings to a noteworthy $100,000 each. Remarkably, 14 of the winning tickets were sold in California, where the prize for this particular draw reached a remarkable $17,500.
A Skyrocketing Jackpot Continues
An Unprecedented Prize Awaits
Following Wednesday’s drawing, lottery officials recalculated the Powerball jackpot, unveiling a staggering $1.4 billion on an annuity basis, with a cash value of $868 million.
Where Can You Join the Lottery Excitement?
Procuring Your Chance at Fortune
Wondering where to acquire your lottery tickets? You can purchase them in person at various locations, including gas stations, convenience stores, grocery stores, and select airport terminals.
Embrace the Digital Era with Jackpocket
A Revolutionary Way to Play
Alternatively, you have the option of ordering tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. This service is available in multiple U.S. states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app empowers you to select your preferred lottery game and numbers, place your order, view your ticket, and claim your winnings, all from the convenience of your smartphone or computer.
Please note that Jackpocket exclusively serves as the digital lottery courier for the USA TODAY Network, and Gannett may earn commissions for directing users to their services. To participate, individuals must be at least 18 years old (21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE) and should be aware that Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1–877–8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1–800–327–5050 (MA); or 1–800-GAMBLER (all others). You can also find full terms and conditions at jackpocket.com/tos.
Originally published at https://cnetreuters.com on October 6, 2023.
