Huge Powerball Jackpot Could be Largest Prize in PA Lottery History

$146.2 Million Cash Value is Largest Lump-Sum Payout Offered Since August 2007

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Powerball players have hours left to purchase tickets for a shot at what could be the largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery.

The $146.2 million cash jackpot is the largest lump-sum cash payout Powerball has offered since August 2007. The jackpot's estimated annuity value is $245 million.

"If a single jackpot-winning ticket is sold in Pennsylvania for tonight's drawing, we'll make Pennsylvania Lottery history with the largest prize ever awarded in our 40 years," said Todd Rucci, Lottery's executive director. "It's been a few years since we had a Powerball jackpot winner in Pennsylvania, so we've got big hopes for tonight's drawing."

The largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery is a $115.5 million Super 7 jackpot from the April 26, 1989 drawing that was shared among 14 winning tickets. The largest Pennsylvania Lottery prize awarded to a single winning ticket was the $110.3 million Powerball jackpot from May 8, 2002, that was claimed by a New Jersey couple.

The last time Powerball offered a cash jackpot this high was the Aug. 25, 2007 drawing, which awarded a $146 million cash prize to a single winning ticket sold in Indiana.

Powerball ticket sales in Pennsylvania were running at about 1,200 plays per minute at 8:30 a.m.; sales at 12:30 p.m. were running at nearly 4,000 plays per minute.

The Lottery anticipates continually growing demand for tickets throughout the day and advises players to purchase Powerball tickets early to avoid the last-minute rush. The Lottery also reminds players to play responsibly.

Powerball tickets for tonight's drawing will be available until 9:59 p.m. at more than 9,000 Lottery retailers across Pennsylvania.

The current jackpot run began on Saturday, Sept. 17. There have been 13 draws without a jackpot winner, and tonight's drawing is the 14^th drawing in the current run.  

Pennsylvania has sold 13 jackpot-winning tickets since joining Powerball. The most recent jackpot ticket sold in Pennsylvania was for the Feb. 28, 2009 drawing, when a $46.6 million cash prize was awarded to a Montgomery County woman.

How to play Powerball: Players pay $1 and select five white balls from the first set of 59 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 39 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball play slip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize.

Powerball features an option called Power Play, for an extra $1 per Powerball play (game).  A player who matches five white balls and purchased Power Play wins $1 million. Other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Power Play number drawn.

Powerball tickets are sold in 44 participating jurisdictions. Drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed nearly $21.5 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For more information, visit www.palottery.com, log in to Facebook and like us at www.facebook.com/palottery or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

Media contact: Lauren Piccolo, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery