Photo: FLLewis / Media City G — Powerball jackpot hits $900 million on January 9, 2016
As Powerball fever sweeps the nation, the jackpot for that lottery game has surged to $900 million. It could near one billion dollars by the time of tonight’s draw at 7 :59 p.m. That’s the riches lottery jackpot in U.S. history. The chances of winning the big prize is one in 293 million. The odds of winning some kind of prize is one in 25. So there are winners.
Last Wednesday, no one scored the jackpot, but a lucky player did match five of the winning numbers. Those numbers are 2,11,47,62,63, and the red Powerball 17. A ticket with all of the numbers, except the Powerball, was sold up in Union City, California and it’s worth $1,414,967. Seventeen players matched four of the numbers and the Powerball. Each of those tickets can be cashed in for $21,307. Also, more than 400 other players who matched four of the digits picked up $417 for the investment of a $2 ticket.
The desire for Powerball tickets has produced long lines and frantic buying this week. It’s expected to continue right up until draw time tonight.
