Community Corner

Powerball Jackpot Hits $400M

What are the odds?

By Mischa Arnosky

No one has won the Powerball jackpot for several weeks … so Wednesday night’s jackpot has worked its way up to an estimated $400 million annuity, with a cash option of about $223.6 million, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery.

To win the jackpot, a player has to correctly match five white balls, which are picked out a drum containing 59 balls, and one red ball, which is picked out of a drum containing 35 balls.

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The odds of that happening? About one in 175.22 million. The odds of winning the next highest prize,  $1 million,  by correctly selecting all five white balls, are about one in 5.2 million. And the odds of winning any prize, including a lowly $4 prize, are about one in 32. Tickets cost $2.

Should a player opt for the annuity, he or she will receive it in 30 payments over 29 years, according to the Powerball website.

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The drawings happen on Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.. Ticket sales for that drawing end no later than 10 p.m.; check with your local retailer to find out its cutoff policy.

To find a retailer, visit the Pennsylvania Lottery’s retailer search here


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