Surging Sales Push Powerball Jackpot to $700 Million

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Aug. 22, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Powerball's second-largest jackpot on record just got even larger. Surging ticket sales have pushed the Powerball® jackpot for the Wednesday, August 23, drawing to a $700 million annuity value or a $443.3 million cash prize.

The jackpot initially rolled to a $650 million annuity value, or $411.7 million cash, after Saturday's drawing. That drawing saw more than 274,000 winners across Pennsylvania, including a $1 million winner in Montgomery County and two, $200,000 Powerball with Power Play® winners in Elk and Susquehanna counties.

"This surge in ticket sales is great news for the older Pennsylvanians who benefit from the sale of every Pennsylvania Lottery game," said Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. "No matter the jackpot level, we ask all players to please play responsibly."

In Pennsylvania, Powerball tickets will remain on sale until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights. The televised drawing takes place at 11 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida.

Pennsylvania Lottery has sold 17 Powerball jackpot-winning tickets since joining the multi-state game 15 years ago this summer. The largest Powerball prize Pennsylvania has ever awarded was a $110.2 million cash-value jackpot claimed by a New Jersey couple in May 2004. The state's largest Powerball group win was a $107.5 million cash jackpot shared by 48 transit workers from the Philadelphia area in April 2012.

Powerball's largest jackpot also holds the world record. It was a nearly $1.6 billion jackpot that was shared by three winning tickets in January 2016.

How to play Powerball: Players pay $2 and select five white balls from the first set of 69 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 26 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball playslip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize.

Purchasing the $1 Power Play option allows a winner to increase lower-tier prizes by a factor of 2, 3, 4 or 5, depending on the Power Play number drawn. A 10X multiplier will be available for the Match 4+1 prize and lower prize tiers when the jackpot is at or below $150 million, or when announced. The jackpot and the Match 5 prize are not multiplied. The Match 5 prize with the Power Play option is worth $2 million. It is $1 million without Power Play.

Powerball is sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Pennsylvania, tickets are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights, Wednesday and Saturday.

About Us: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed nearly $28 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals. 

Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.

Visit palottery.com for winning numbers, rules, chances of winning, and to join the VIP Players Club for second chances to win. Install our official mobile app, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @PALottery.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lottery Media Relations, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery