Sept. 6 (UPI) — The estimated Powerball jackpot has grown to $1.8 billion, the second-largest lottery prize in the United States, ahead of the drawing at 11 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
The highest payout in the history of the multi-state contest was on Nov. 7, 2022, at $2.04 billion. Late sales have pushed the current pot past $1.765 billion prize on Oct. 11, 2023.
Saturday’s drawing will be the 42nd since the last jackpot was won on May 31.
Powerball began with its first drawing on April 22, 1992, of $2. It was a rebranding of its predecessor game, Lotto America, which began in 1988.
The winner will receive the option of a lump sum payment estimated at $826.4 million or 29 payments that increase by 5% each year. Federal and applicable state taxes also are withdrawn from the payouts.
In 18 states, winners can be anonymous.
Wednesday’s winning numbers were white balls 3, 16, 29, 61, 69 and a red Powerball 22 with a Power Play multiplier of 2. There are 69 white balls and 26 red ones.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
Tickets cost $2 and are available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game can’t be played in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah.
Numbers are drawn three times a week — Monday, Wednesday and Saturday — from a studio in Tallahassee, Fla. You can watch the live Powerball drawing on the official Powerball website, its YouTube channel or on local TV stations.
The largest payout of the other national lottery was Mega Million’s $1.60 billion on August 2023. In April, the price of the game increased from $2 to $5 per ticket. Drawings are on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Mega Millions’ roots started on Aug. 31, 1993. The Mega Millions game debuted in 2002, and New York and Ohio joined the game.