The Powerball jackpot has increased to an estimated $291 million after no one matched all six numbers in the drawing on Saturday, August 19, 2023. The next drawing will be on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, and the cash option is worth $140.4 million.
Saturday’s Powerball Numbers
The winning numbers for Saturday night’s drawing were 1, 25, 27, 38, and 62, with a red Powerball number 13. The “Power Play” multiplier was 2x. According to the official Powerball website, the odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
Although no one won the grand prize, there were some winners in Georgia and other states. According to Georgia Lottery, 52 players in the state won $100 by matching either four white balls or three white balls and the Powerball. The Power Play option doubled their winnings to $200.
Previous Powerball Jackpots
The last time someone won the Powerball jackpot was on July 19, 2023, when a ticket sold in California matched all six numbers and claimed a $1 billion prize. It was the seventh-largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history and the second-largest Powerball jackpot ever.
The largest Powerball jackpot was $2.04 billion, which was won by a single ticket in California on November 7, 2022. The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was $1.586 billion, which was split by three tickets in California, Florida, and Tennessee on January 13, 2016.
How to Play Powerball
To participate in the Powerball game, players can purchase a ticket for $2 per play. The game requires players to choose five numbers from one to 69 for the white balls, and one number from one to 26 for the red Powerball. Alternatively, players can opt to receive random numbers.
In order to win the jackpot, it is necessary to match the numbers for all of the five white balls and the red Powerball. In addition to the grand prize, Powerball offers eight other ways to win based on the number of matched balls in the non-jackpot tiers. The non-jackpot prizes offered range from $4 to $1 million.
By paying an additional $1, you can choose to participate in “Powerplay” that increases non-jackpot winnings by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. According to Powerball, the 10X Powerplay option is exclusively applicable to jackpots worth $150 million or less. Additionally, the game’s “Match 5” prize for the second-tier is limited to a maximum of $2 million if the Powerplay feature is utilized.
An additional add-on feature called “Double Play,” which gives players another chance to match their numbers after each Powerball drawing, is available in some jurisdictions for $1 per play.
Where to Buy Powerball Tickets
Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You can buy tickets at authorized retailers or online through official lottery websites or apps. You can also check the winning numbers and prizes on the official Powerball website or app.
If you win a Powerball prize, you have two options: take a lump-sum payment or an annuity that pays out over 29 years. The annuity option increases each year by 5% to account for inflation. You also have to pay taxes on your winnings, which vary by state and federal laws.
You have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim your prize, but some states may have different deadlines. You should sign your ticket and keep it in a safe place until you are ready to claim your prize. You should also consult a financial advisor or a lawyer before claiming your prize.
