Lottery: Wednesday Powerball Jackpot Could Hit $153 Million

As there were no tickets matching all 6 numbers on Saturday, the US Powerball lottery jackpot has rolled over once more, to a value estimated to be around $153,000,000. The next draw takes place on Wednesday 15th June, at 10.59 p.m. Eastern time, with players needing to have their tickets by 10.00 p.m.

About The Powerball Lottery

Run across 44 states, the Powerball is the largest lottery game in the USA, and was initially launched as Lotto America in 1988. Recent changes have seen the odds of winning a lower level prize improve, while the chances of scooping the jackpot have lessened, leading to some huge rollovers including the $1.6 billion jackpot that was won by 3 tickets in January 2016.

The aim of the Powerball is to match 6 numbers, with 5 main ones needing to be picked from a possible 69, and a single Powerball number from a pool of 26. Secondary prizes include a guaranteed $1 million for matching the main numbers, with picking just the Powerball, or a single number and the Powerball being worth a payout of $4.

Tickets cost $2, but for an extra $1, players take the PowerPlay option which can multiply the value of any prizes under $50,000 by up to five times.

Jackpots are paid out either as a cash sum, which is subject to taxes, or in annual instalments over 29 years.

Playing Online

The draw takes place in Tallahassee Florida, and now that online ticket buying services such as LottoExpress, LottoBooking and The Lotter are available, anyone with an internet connection can enter. Through these, players pick their numbers and buy tickets online, while local agents actually purchase the tickets on their behalf, with prizes sent directly back to winners.

An important point to note however, is the time differences around the world, so the 10 p.m. cut off time in Florida actually equals 3 a.m. the following morning in the UK for example.