UPDATE 5-17-2013: Because of “unprecedented sales nationwide,” the estimated jackpot for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing has been increased to $600 million, Virginia Lottery spokesman John Hagerty just announced.
UPDATE 5-16-2013: Saturday’s Powerball drawing has increased to $550 million, according to Virginia Lottery spokesman John Hagerty. Hagerty credited the jump to stronger-than-expected nationwide sales.
(CNN) — The Powerball jackpot for Saturday’s drawing will be at least $475 million, the third largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history, after no one matched the winning numbers in Wednesday night’s draw.
Wednesday’s jackpot in the multistate lottery was $360 million. The numbers were 2, 11, 26, 34 and 41 with a Powerball of 32.
Saturday’s jackpot will be the second largest in the history of the Powerball game, behind a $587.6 million jackpot that was split by winners in Arizona and Missouri in November.
The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was $656 million in the Mega Millions game in March 2012. That was split by three tickets sold in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland.
The Powerball game is played in 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. A single ticket costs $2, and the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 175 million.
And if that’s a little too pricey for you, a Mega Millions ticket will cost you only $1. The jackpot for Friday’s Mega Millions drawing will be at least $190 million, and the odds are the same, 1 in 175 million. Mega Millions is played in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Jackpots in both games are based on payouts as annuities over 30 years. Players can choose a cash payout that will be less.
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