The anticipation is electrifying as the Powerball jackpot swells to a monumental $1.09 billion, placing it as the fourth-largest prize the lottery has ever seen. The prize has amassed to an estimated cash value of $527.3 million and is set for the draw on Wednesday, April 3rd.
A long stretch of draws without a grand prize winner has led us to this point. The last time the Powerball top prize was captured was on January 1st, with a ticket holder in Michigan securing an $842 million jackpot. Pulling the lens back a bit, the history-making largest Powerball jackpot reached a jaw-dropping $2.04 billion in November 2022, eventually claimed by a fortunate participant in California.
The Mega Millions, a close cousin to Powerball in the lottery family, recently found a match for its $1.13 billion reward when a blessed ticket in New Jersey hit all six required numbers on March 26.
Hungry for your own piece of the pie with Powerball? Before the next draw this coming Wednesday, here’s what you need to grasp about the game.
Wondering if your Powerball dreams can begin online? Several states now permit online ticket purchases. These draws occur thrice a week on every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at precisely 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
As for the impending draw, it’s slated for April 3rd, with the most recent set of numbers drawn on April 1st being 19, 24, 40, 42, 56, complemented by the Powerball number 23 and a Power Play multiplier of 2X.
The April 1st draw might not have produced any jackpot or Match 5 + Power Play $2 million winners, yet there were still lucky souls who matched 5 totaling $1 million in various states. These winning numbers come to you courtesy of Jackpocket, the USA TODAY Network’s official digital lottery courier.
The Power Play option, which costs an additional dollar, can amplify non-jackpot prizes considerably. Prior to each drawing, the Power Play multiplier—ranging from two to ten times—is randomly picked.
Playing is straightforward: a Powerball ticket costs $2. Participants select five numbers ranging from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then choose one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. You can opt for a manually filled play slip or use the lottery terminal’s random number generator.
There are nine different ways to win, each with its own set of chances. And if you’re feeling adventurous, the Power Play can inflate your non-jackpot winnings for an additional $1 per play. The Match 5 with Power Play prize never wavers from $2 million, according to Powerball.
Unlike other prizes with predetermined amounts, the grand prize varies. California operates differently; there, winnings are shaped by both sales figures and the number of winners.
The odds of hitting the grand prize are 1 in 292,201,338, and if you’re playing for the lowest prize of $4 for matching the red Powerball, the chances are 1 in 38.32. Powerball states that the general probability of winning a prize is around 1 in 24.87 on a $2 bet.
The pantheon of top five Powerball jackpots includes some staggering figures that have been claimed over the years. Lottery tickets are widely available at everyday locations such as gas stations, convenience stores, and supermarkets, with some airports also providing this service.
In addition to the ease of in-person purchases, lottery tickets can be ordered through Jackpocket in many U.S. states and territories, which includes a handy app that lets you play lotteries, view your tickets, and collect winnings from the comfort of your smartphone or computer.
Remember, you must be of legal age to play, which varies from 18+ to 21+ depending on your state. It is also essential to note that Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery and to always play responsibly. If gambling becomes a problem, support is available through various helplines across the states. For more on Jackpocket’s terms, visit their official website.
