As 2023 draws to a close, the Powerball lottery has given players a thrilling finale with a jackpot that has soared to an estimated $760 million. This comes after no tickets matched all six numbers in the Wednesday night drawing, leaving the grand prize of $707 million unclaimed. The jackpot now stands as one of the largest in the history of the multi-state lottery game, promising a one-time cash payout option of $382.5 million for the lucky winner.
The numbers drawn on Wednesday night were 4, 11, 38, 51, and 68, with a red Powerball number of 5. The Power Play option was 3X. Despite no grand prize winner, there were some lucky players. A Californian won $1 million by matching all five white numbers, and a Texan won $2 million with the Power Play option.
The year 2023 has been a remarkable one for Powerball, with two billion-dollar prizes won. The first, a staggering $1.765 billion, was claimed by a Californian in October, marking the second-largest jackpot ever offered by the game. The second billion-dollar prize, amounting to $1.08 billion, was won by another Californian in July.
The final drawing of the year is set for Saturday night, offering players one last chance to claim the grand prize. Powerball tickets, priced at $2 per play, are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
FAQ
What is Powerball?
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game in the United States. Players pick five numbers from a set of 69 white balls and one number from 26 red Powerballs. The jackpot is won by matching all six numbers drawn.
What is the Power Play option?
The Power Play option is an additional feature that players can purchase for an extra $1 per play. It multiplies all non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times, depending on the Power Play number drawn.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million.
What happens if no one wins the jackpot?
If no one wins the jackpot, the prize money rolls over to the next drawing, and the jackpot continues to grow until someone wins.
Glossary
Jackpot: The largest prize in a lottery game, typically won by matching all the numbers drawn.
Power Play: An optional feature in Powerball that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times for an additional cost.
Drawing: The process of randomly selecting the winning numbers in a lottery game.
Roll Over: A situation in a lottery game where the jackpot is not won and the prize money is carried over to the next drawing.
