- The Powerball second prize is up for grabs Wednesday night.
- The jackpot is estimated to be $1.2 trillion and has been growing steadily since August.
- Even if the jackpot is not won, there are many ways to win and get a little more.
An estimated $1.2 billion Powerball lottery up for grabs on Wednesday night, even those who Don’t play oftenLottery players are getting in on the act.
If the prize is claimed by this week, it would be the second-largest in the game’s 30-year history. This comes after 38 consecutive drawings that were held without a winner since Aug. The prize, if won, would also be fourth in US lottery history.
There are many other ways to make more money, even if you miss the jackpot of a billion dollars. Uninitiated Powerball players may have purchased tickets in an impulse purchase. We decided to breakdown the situation. All the ways you can win. You’re safe.
Let’s start with the basics. The Powerball lottery is comprised of six numbers that are randomly chosen twice per week. Live drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10.59 PM EST. The numbers are printed on red or white balls and then placed in an automated machine that will give out the winning numbers.
The first five numbers (white), are between 1 – 69. The Powerball is the final number, which is red. It can be between 1 and 26.
Players can choose all six numbers or they can do a quick pick and get a random set of numbers. Tickets are $2 each. You can also upgrade your ticket by adding $1 to the purchase price to get “Power Play.”
You can get your cash prize doubled if you win any winning tickets for the grand prize jackpot.
What, then, are the winning tickets? The possible winning tickets and their cash prizes are as follows:
- Match all 5 white numbers only — $1 million
- Match 4 out of 5 white numbers + Powerball — $50,000
- Match 4 white numbers only — $100
- Match 3 white numbers + Powerball — $100
- Match 3 white numbers only — $7
- Match 2 white numbers + Powerball — $7
- Match 1 white number + Powerball — $4
- Powerball only — $4
The “Power Play Bonus” is only available to winners of the jackpot. It will be announced at the drawing. The standard $1 million prize will not apply to you if you have matched all five of the white numbers. Instead, you will receive $2 million for selecting “Power Play” during your ticket purchase. All other prizes will receive the “Power Play” bonus at 2x, 3x or 4x. The 5x bonus is at 5x.
There are only 1 in 24.87 chances of winning any of these prizes, starting at $4. However, the chances of winning the jackpot are much lower. 1 in 292,000,000. In the unlikely event that you do receive a lump sum, Don’t forget about hiring a lawyer. The majority of states offer players Minimum 180 days before you can move forward.
The next Powerball drawing is Wednesday, November 19, at 10:00 p.m. EST.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published January 2016, and has been updated to reflect current developments..
