Sales Update for Tonight's $700 Million Powerball Jackpot

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Aug. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At Pennsylvania Lottery retailers, tickets are flying off the shelves for tonight's Powerball® drawing, offering the game's second-largest jackpot on record: a $700 million annuity prize or $443.3 million cash.

At mid-day today, Powerball tickets were selling at a rate of about 8,300 per-minute, statewide. The hourly sales rate was about triple what it was at the same time on Tuesday.

"Remember: it only takes one ticket to win, so please play responsibly," said Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. "A fun way to play responsibly is to pool your ticket purchases with friends or co-workers."

Tonight's jackpot ranks in size only behind the nearly $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot shared by three winning tickets in January 2016. Here are some other quick Powerball facts:

• It costs $2 to play. Choose your own numbers or let the computer Quick Pick them.
• The televised drawing takes place at 11 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida.
• In Pennsylvania, tickets are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights.
• The Pennsylvania Lottery has sold 17 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.
• Pennsylvania's largest Powerball group win was a $107.5 million cash jackpot shared by 48 transit workers from the Philadelphia area in April 2012.
• The current jackpot has been growing since the June 10 drawing.
• In Pennsylvania, players must be 18 or older.

If the jackpot rolls tonight, the advertised annuity value will be $1 billion for the Saturday, August 26, drawing.

"A big jackpot translates into great news for the older Pennsylvanians who benefit from the sale of every Lottery ticket sold," Svitko added. "They are winners, no matter what."

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