The excitement surrounding the Powerball lottery reached a fever pitch this week as the jackpot has swollen to an eye-watering $120 million. This meteoric rise comes after no participants managed to clinch the grand prize during Wednesday night’s drawing.
The climb in prize money has been relentless since a lucky individual from Florida snagged a $215 million jackpot on May 6. The growing anticipation is evident as ticket sales surge across the country, with hopeful participants dreaming of what they might do with their prospective windfall.
For those keeping score, the numbers drawn for Wednesday’s Powerball — May 22 — were unveiled just moments after 11 p.m. ET. The winning numbers were 5, 16, 18, 26, and 67, with a red Powerball of 4. Furthermore, the Power Play multiplier landed on 3X, potentially increasing winnings for those who opted for this feature.
Though no one managed to scoop the jackpot or the Match 5 + Power Play $2 million prize, there was some excitement on the west coast. A fortunate player in California walked away with $1 million by hitting the Match 5 combination. For those interested in historical data, a comprehensive list of Powerball winners is available via the lottery’s official website.
So, how does one join the throng of Powerball hopefuls? It’s simple. For $2, individuals can purchase a Powerball ticket at various locations, including convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. But the digital age offers modern conveniences as well — select states have now made it possible to buy tickets online.
When selecting numbers, participants must choose six in total. Five of these numbers come from a pool ranging from 1 to 69, represented by white balls. The sixth number, the all-important Powerball, is a red ball and ranges from 1 to 26.
Feeling that luck may need an extra push? Adding a “Power Play” for an additional $1 could see non-jackpot winnings magnified.
. Depending on the draw, this multiplier could be 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or even 10X.
For those who prefer to leave it to fate, a “Quick Pick” option is readily available. This involves a cashier providing a computer-generated set of numbers, making the process fast and convenient.
Powerball drawings occur three times a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. Each drawing propels that anticipation to new heights. In the event no one claims the jackpot, the prize naturally rolls over, amassing even greater amounts the next time around.
Interested parties can visit physical locations such as gas stations, grocery stores, and even certain airport terminals to purchase their tickets. For those in eligible states, the Jackpocket app offers a modern alternative. This service allows users to pick their lottery games and numbers, place orders, and monitor their tickets and winnings all via their smartphones or computers.
Jackpocket serves as the official digital lottery courier for the USA TODAY Network, facilitating online ticket purchases in various U.S. states and territories. Participating regions include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
It’s important to note that the Jackpocket app imposes age restrictions: users must be 18 or older, but the minimum age rises to 21 in Arizona and 19 in Nebraska. The company advises anyone experiencing gambling-related issues to seek help through dedicated hotlines, such as 1-877-8-HOPE-NY for New York residents or 1-800-GAMBLER for others.
As anticipation builds for Saturday’s drawing, one can only imagine the excitement and life-changing possibilities this event holds for its myriad players. The dream of instant riches is alive and well, embodied by the ever-increasing Powerball jackpot.
