Powerball Jackpot Grows To $850M, 6th-Largest In History, Fueling Ticket Sales In CA

CALIFORNIA — Golden State Powerball vendors have been busy as the jackpot in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing was increased to an estimated $850 million, the sixth highest in the history of the game.

The jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing was originally estimated at $815 million after there were no jackpot winners Monday, setting off a flurry of ticket sales.

“America has signaled loud and clear – it’s ready to play for a massive Powerball jackpot!,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “Powerball ticket sales have doubled in the past week, as more players join the fun with a $2 ticket, while also giving back to good causes in their communities.”

Powerball vendors in California are found on the California Lottery website. Tickets must be purchased by 7 p.m. PT to be considered in Wednesday’s drawing at 10:59 p.m. ET.

The top prize now has a cash value of $383.7 million, Powerball said.

The jackpot climbed again after no player matched the winning numbers Monday: white balls 16, 19, 34, 37 and 64, and the red Powerball 22.

Two tickets in Georgia and Texas won $1 million prizes after matching all five white balls. Five tickets won $150,000 prizes, and 26 won $50,000 prizes, Powerball said.

Also, a Maryland player who purchased the Double Play option for an extra $1 won a $500,000 prize after matching all five black balls. The option allows players to play their Powerball numbers again in a separate drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million.

Wednesday’s Powerball drawing will be the 38th drawing since the jackpot was last won in California on May 31.

Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.

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