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

Illinois Powerball vendors are expected to be busy as the estimated jackpot in Wednesday’s Powerball drawing grew to $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!”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 wit

Powerball vendors in Illinois are found on the Illinois State Lottery website. Tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. CT, to be considered in Wednesday’s drawing at 9:59 p.m. CT.

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.