DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot increased to an estimated $935 million after no one matched the six numbers drawn Wednesday night.
The numbers selected were: 37, 46, 57, 60, 66 and the Powerball 8.
The drawing came a day after a player in New Jersey won a $1.13 billion Mega Millions prize after 30 straight drawings without a winner.
The Powerball jackpot has been growing for months, since the last winner on New Year’s Day. There now have been 37 consecutive drawings without anyone hitting the top prize.
The game’s odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to create big jackpots that will grab attention and increase sales.
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The $935 million prize for the next drawing Saturday night is for a sole winner who is paid over 30 years through an annuity. Winners usually opt for a cash payout, which for the next drawing would be an estimated $449.7 million.
Powerball is played in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
How do I play Powerball?
Players can buy tickets for $2 per play. In Idaho and Montana, Powerball is bundled with Power Play for $3 per play.
Select five numbers between 1 and 69 for the white balls, then select one number between 1 and 26 for the red Powerball.
People can pick their own numbers — and some play the same numbers each time — but most players opt for the quick pick option, which lets a computer generate random numbers.
Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. EST at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee.
Players can win a prize by matching one of the 9 ways to win. The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball.
Who runs the lottery games?
Powerball, and Mega Millions, the other big lottery game, are run separately but both are overseen by state lotteries. Powerball operates in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The games don't operate in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada or Utah.
Both of the games raise money for the jurisdictions where they operate along with profits from other lottery games, such as scratch tickets. Some states shift the money into their general funds while others use it for specific purposes, such as funding college scholarships or state parks.
How much would I win?
A lot, but likely a lot less than you might think.
First, that's because the advertised jackpot of $865 million is for a sole winner who is paid through an annuity, with an initial payment and then annual checks for 29 years. Nearly all winners actually prefer a cash payout, which for Wednesday night's drawing would be an estimated $391.1 million — less than half the number splashed across billboards and in neon ads at convenience stores.
Jackpot winners may choose to receive their prize as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump-sum payment, with jackpots subject to taxes.
Before forking over the money, lottery officials also would deduct 24% for federal taxes. The final tax bill could ultimately be higher though, as some of the winnings could be subject to the top federal tax bracket of 37%. State taxes also could be assessed, depending on where a player bought the winning ticket.
There also is a chance that more than one person will buy a winning ticket. Whatever the jackpot amount, it could be divvied into smaller prizes. In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.
What are the odds?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, and it's those low odds that enable the game to trundle along without a winner for months. If the odds were better, people would win jackpots more frequently, so the top prizes wouldn't grow so large — and entice so many people to play.
That said, lottery officials note there have been millions of winning tickets during that span, with prizes ranging from $2 to $1 million. The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.87.
What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won?
10. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions
9. $1.08 billion, Powerball
8. $1.13 billion, Mega Millions
7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions
6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions
5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions
4. $1.586 billion, Powerball
3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions
2. $1.765 billion, Powerball
1. $2.04 billion, Powerball