PA Lottery Retailers See Very Brisk Sales for Powerball, Mega Millions Games

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., May 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With jackpots for the multi-state Powerball® and Mega Millions® games totaling $376 million, tickets are selling at a very brisk pace at Pennsylvania Lottery retailers statewide.

For tonight's drawing, the Powerball jackpot offers a $222 million annuity value, or a $144.5 million cash prize.

After last night's drawing, the Mega Millions jackpot for Friday, May 10 rose to a $154 million annuity value, or a $115.2 million cash prize. Two Mega Millions tickets worth $250,000 each from the May 7 drawing were sold at retailers in Philadelphia.

"May is Older Pennsylvanians Month, making this an ideal time to experience such high jackpots and incredible sales for the Powerball and Mega Millions games," said Lottery Executive Director Todd Rucci. "From these current big jackpot runs alone, the Pennsylvania Lottery has generated more than $18 million to support vital benefits and services for older Pennsylvanians."

Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, statewide ticket sales for both games peaked at a rate of more than 1,000 tickets per minute.

Lottery officials reported Powerball ticket sales started very strongly this morning and will likely surge again later in the day.

Tickets for Powerball and Mega Millions are available until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights. The Pennsylvania Lottery advises players to purchase Powerball and Mega Millions tickets early to avoid any last-minute rush, and to always play responsibly.

How to play Powerball: Players pay $2 and select five white balls from the first set of 59 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 35 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball playslip, 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 tickets are sold in 43 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  

How to Play Mega Millions: Mega Millions tickets cost $1 per play. Players pick five numbers from 1 to 56 and one number from 1 to 46 (the Mega Ball). Players can pick their own numbers or have numbers randomly selected by computer. For an extra $1 per play, players can add the Megaplier. Prior to the Mega Millions drawing, the Megaplier number – ranging from two to four – is randomly selected.

A player who matches five white balls and purchased Megaplier wins $1 million.  Other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Megaplier number drawn.

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 42 states, Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held on Tuesdays and Fridays.

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 more than $22.6 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 drawings results, winning numbers, winners' stories and to subscribe to the Lottery's RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Also log in to Facebook and like us at www.facebook.com/palottery or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

Media contact: Gary Miller, 717-702-8008

Editor's Note: For Powerball historic information and jackpot rankings, visit www.powerball.com and select "Press Contacts," then scroll to the bottom of the page and select the link for "Powerball General Information." For historic information and jackpot rankings for Mega Millions, visit www.megamillions.com and select "About Us" and "History of the Game."

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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