Community Corner
Sorry, Illinois: Someone in New Jersey Won the May 7 Powerball
Saturday's Powerball jackpot topped out at $430 million.

Sorry Illinois. Someone in New Jersey won Saturday's multi-state Powerball jackpot estimated at $430 million. The jackpot grew by $15 million given brisk sales in the hours ahead of the drawing. Powerball officials confirmed a single winning ticket was purchased in New Jersey.
Powerball officials noted other prizes were won, too.
"There was one Powerball jackpot winner Saturday and 3,011,353 additional players won prizes totaling more than $25.7 Million," officials wrote on their website. "The estimated jackpot will be reset to $40 Million."
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The Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, May 7: 05 - 25 - 26 - 44 - 66, Powerball: 9
Check your numbers anyway. You may have won a smaller prize than the single winner in New Jersey.
Find out what's happening in Chicagofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Earlier this year, the Powerball jackpot climbed up to $1.6 billion, the highest it's ever been. Three people from California, Tennessee and Florida ended up cashing in on the jackpot.
Tickets are sold for $2 in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The jackpot starts at $40 million and increases after each drawing if there isn't a winner.
The record jackpot went from $355 million to $1.6 billion in three drawings.
Players pick five numbers from one to 69 and a sixth Powerball number, one through 26. (Most people just choose to get random numbers.) There are various levels of payouts, but to win the ultimate jackpot, you have to match all five numbers plus the Powerball.
The odds of that happening? Just 1 in 292,201,338. In other words, don't cash out your kids' college fund to buy tickets.
A winner can pick two ways to claim their prize. The first is an annuity that is paid out 30 times over 29 years. The second is an immediate cash payout that is available immediately but is significantly less money than the total jackpot.
Where to Buy
Illinois residents can buy tickets online at illinoislottery.com, at almost 8,000 retailers in the state or by using the free Illinois Lottery’s mobile app.
The overall odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292,201,338, the Illinois Lottery reports. Drawings are every Wednesday and Saturday.
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