Powerball jackpot climbs to $856 million after Wednesday draw
The Powerball prize reached $856 million following a draw with no winners, while the UK version offers a £444 million jackpot payable over 30 years.
The Powerball jackpot increased to $856 million after Wednesday night’s drawing produced no winning tickets for the top prize. The record-setting amount is the largest lottery prize in the United States this year, surpassing the $800 million Mega Millions jackpot won in Florida last week.
The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Saturday night. The odds of winning the jackpot remain 1 in 292.2 million, slightly longer than the 1 in 290.4 million odds for Mega Millions.
Since last month, the Powerball jackpot has also been available to players in the United Kingdom. UK officials say the inclusion of British ticket sales will help the prize grow more quickly. The UK-offered jackpot is advertised at £444 million (about $597.6 million) and can only be claimed as 30 annual installments, with no lump-sum cash option.
"The UK prize reflects the estimated amount a winner would receive over a 30-year period after exchange rates and UK tax requirements have been taken into account," a National Lottery spokesperson said.