Powerball Soars To Incredible $800 Million As States See Strong Sales
LANSING (WWJ/AP) — The record Powerball jackpot just got bigger, climbing to $800 million as sales soared in the days leading up to the drawing.
Officials with the Multi-State Lottery Association on Friday raised the estimated jackpot for Saturday night's drawing from $700 million because of strong sales.
Officials said Powerball sales on Thursday were double the previous record for that day and that it's possible the estimated jackpot could rise again before Saturday's drawing.
A winner would have the option of being paid $800 million through annual payments over 29 years or opting for $496 million in cash.
So, what are your odds of winning? Not great, according to Grand Valley State University Statistics Professor John Gabrosek.
"There are five white balls that are numbered one through 69, and you have to pick those numbers to match the five numbers that are drawn. And then there's the red Powerball which is numbered one through 26, and you have to match that one, too," he said. "So for a single ticket, your chance of winning is about one out of 292 million."
Gabrosek said you have a better chance of being hit by lightning or being audited by the IRS than hitting the jackpot. But -- of course -- you know how the saying goes: You can't win if you don't play.
The previous record for a U.S. lottery jackpot was $656 million. That Mega Millions jackpot was won in March 2012 and split between three winning tickets (Kansas, Illinois and Maryland). The former record Powerball jackpot was $590.5 million, won in May 2013 by a Florida woman.
The biggest lottery prize in Michigan is a $337 million Powerball jackpot, won by a Lapeer man in August 2012.
Powerball is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Tickets cost $2 each and can be purchased until 9:45 p.m. Saturday. The drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m.
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