Powerball jackpot reaches $1 billion for Wednesday drawing
The Wednesday Powerball drawing will feature a $1 billion jackpot, the eighth-largest in the game’s history, with tickets costing $2 and odds of 1 in 292.2 million.
The Powerball jackpot for the upcoming Wednesday drawing has risen to $1 billion, making it the eighth-largest jackpot in the game’s history, officials said in a news release. The cash option for the prize is estimated at $433.1 million. Draws are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:59 p.m., with ticket sales closing at 7 p.m. on the day of the draw. Tickets cost $2 each and the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
The jackpot has rolled over 43 times since the last win on May 2. In addition to the top prize, smaller prizes remain available; a $1.53 million prize from the February 21 drawing in San Diego County has not yet been claimed. The ticket, sold at Varso Gas in Escondido, matched five of the six numbers but missed the Powerball. The claimant has until August 20 to come forward, after which the prize will revert to California public schools, according to state law. The California Lottery has directed anyone who purchased a ticket at Varso Gas to verify their ticket and, if it is a winner, to visit a district office with the original ticket, a government-issued photo ID and a claim form.