Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night from the drawing studio in Tallahassee, Florida. Expectations for the lottery’s estimated prize money have risen steadily over the past three months as dozens of Powerball rounds have passed without anyone hitting the jackpot outright. The last grand prize went to a winning ticket sold in Pennsylvania in early August, and the prize money has been growing ever since.
How to play Powerball
Interested players can purchase Powerball tickets, which sell for $2 per game, in 45 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to lottery officials. But while the odds of winning any prize during a Powerball drawing are said to be about 1 in 25, a player’s odds of securing the jackpot are significantly lower, about 1 in 292 million, officials say. When a Powerball ticket is purchased, the player is asked to select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one number between 1 and 26, for a total of six digits printed on a game ticket. Those who prefer not to pick numbers themselves can choose the lottery terminal to pick their numbers at random. Smaller prizes are awarded to players who have tickets with numbers that partially match the sequence announced during a drawing. To win the jackpot, a ticket must match all six numbers called, including the final Powerball number. On Saturday, the winning numbers were 28, 45, 53, 56 and 69, with a Powerball of 20. It marked the 40th Powerball drawing since the jackpot was last won in August. If no one wins during Monday night’s drawing, this Powerball streak will become the longest in the game’s history without a big winner. If one or more Powerball tickets win on Monday, the estimated cash value of the jackpot is $929.1 million, according to the drawing. As usual, winners can choose to collect their prize either as a lump sum, which can be collected in full after applicable taxes, or as an annuity, which is paid in 30 staggered payments over 29 years.
