The newly revamped premium Powerball ® is proving what the math had predicted–more new millionaires and bigger jackpots!
Saturday’s jackpot has been upgraded to $325 million due to the volume of sales, and the cash value is at a record $202.9 million!
One or more lucky players may have the privilege of winning the ninth largest jackpot in U.S. history! The largest jackpot was $390 million in the March 2007 Mega Millions drawing. The biggest Powerball ® jackpot so far was a $365 million prize split by eight co-workers at a Nebraska meat-packing plant in February 2006.
The enriched $2 version of Powerball ®, which debuted January 15, was designed to create the added value of very large jackpots, a second prize of $1 million in cash, and better overall odds of winning some prize. Key features for the new game are starting jackpots that doubled from $20 million to $40 million and a cash second prize that quintupled from $200,000 to $1 million. Thanks to the reduced red ball numbers-dropping from 39 to 35-a player now has better overall odds of winning a prize. Players can always win a prize by matching the red Powerball® number.
The Power Play option is still available for an extra $1 per play. Instead of randomly multiplying a prize by two to five times, Power Play now moves each prize level up by a set amount. The top prize of $1 million is doubled to $2 million and the $10,000 prize quadruples to $40,000. All other prizes are also increased.
Powerball® drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Tickets are $2 each and must be purchased by 9:45 p.m. to be eligible for that day’s drawing.
Over 95 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2011, the contribution to schools was over $727.3 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed over $16 billion to education in Michigan.
For additional information, please visit the Lottery’s Web site at www.michiganlottery.com.
“The Michigan Lottery. All across the state good things happen.”
Contact: Andi Brancato, PR Director 517-335-5648
Agency: Michigan Lottery Public Relations
