Detroit
AP
—
This may purchase quite a lot of Labor Day weekend sunblock: Saturday’s Powerball jackpot is estimated at $1 billion, the sixth-largest prize within the recreation’s historical past.
Powerball, which prices $2 per ticket, is performed in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The jackpot has been rising every week as a result of nobody has matched all six numbers since May 31.
As ticket gross sales climbed this week, recreation officers raised the estimated Saturday night time jackpot to $1 billion from $950 million, earlier than taxes. Payments can be unfold over 30 years, or a winner can select a direct lump sum of $453 million, once more earlier than taxes.
“We’re bringing extra excitement to Labor Day weekend,” mentioned Matt Strawn, head of the Iowa Lottery and chair of Powerball.
The odds of matching all six numbers, in fact, are daunting: 1 in 292.2 million. By comparability, the chances of getting a uncommon shark chew throughout a final summer season dip within the ocean are a lot decrease, in line with the Florida Museum of Natural History.
Angela Schwartz, who sells tickets at City Market in downtown Detroit, mentioned the message Friday was constant: “Give me a lucky Powerball.”
“I don’t know if that’s enough for me,” she mentioned with amusing, referring to the lump-sum payout a winner may get. “It could pay a few bills.”
At a Fuel City in Dallas, Duran Hargest let the lottery machine spit out 4 tickets with random numbers.
“It could be a blessing,” he mentioned of successful the jackpot. “It could also be a curse, depending on how you use it. I just wanted to make sure if I get it, you know, take care of my family and then probably help others that probably need it, too.”
Powerball and Mega Millions are lottery video games with probably enormous jackpots as a result of they’re performed in a number of states. The prime Powerball jackpot was $2.04 billion on November 7, 2022. The largest Mega Millions jackpot was $1.6 billion on August 8, 2023.