Pennsylvania Powerball Rolls to Record $675 Million Jackpot

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Jan. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With no jackpot winner in the January 6 Powerball® drawing, the jackpot rolled to an estimated $675 million annuity value, or $413.1 million cash option, for Saturday, January 9 – a new record for the Powerball game as well as the largest jackpot of any lottery game in U.S. history.

This jackpot has been rolling since the November 4, 2015, drawing. Since then, in Pennsylvania alone, Powerball has produced one $2 million winner, two $1 million winners and nearly 1.2 million other winners of over $13.6 million in prizes.

"This historic jackpot is sparking incredible interest and players across Pennsylvania are very excited," said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. "We encourage all players to play responsibly and to buy their tickets early to avoid a last-minute rush on Saturday."

The Powerball jackpot for the Wednesday, January 6, drawing had rolled to a $400 million annuity value, or $244 million cash prize, after the drawing on Saturday, January 2, produced no jackpot winner. On Tuesday, it was increased to $450 million annuity value, or a $275.4 million cash prize, due to strong ticket sales. On Wednesday, ticket sales produced another boost to a $500 million annuity value, or $306 million cash prize.

The January 6 Powerball drawing results were: 02-11-47-62-63; Powerball: 17. The Power Play number was 03. Players should check every ticket, every time.

Lottery retailers statewide are reporting brisk ticket sales. Tickets for the next Powerball drawing will be available until 9:59 p.m. on Saturday, January 9.

How to play Powerball: Players pay $2 and select five white balls from the first set of 69 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 26 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.

Purchasing the $1 Power Play option allows a winner to increase lower-tier prizes by a factor of 2, 3, 4 or 5, depending on the Power Play number drawn. A 10X multiplier will be available for the Match 4+1 prize and lower prize tiers when the jackpot is at or below $150 million, or when announced. The jackpot and the Match 5 prize are not multiplied. The Match 5 prize with the Power Play option is worth $2 million. It is $1 million without Power Play.

Powerball is sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Pennsylvania, tickets are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights, Wednesday and Saturday.

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 $25.8 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 players to check every ticket, every time. Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-848-1880.

For drawings results, winning numbers, winners' stories and to subscribe to the Lottery's RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Like us on Facebook at or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

MEDIA CONTACT: Lottery Public Relations, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

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