$550 Million Powerball Drawing is Tonight in Massachusetts and 41 States

Tonight at 10:59 p.m., someone – but more likely, some people – will be a heck of a lot better off when the Powerball lottery number is drawn, with the anticipated payoff of $550 million as of 2 p.m. but expect that number to jump later in the day.

And all for betting a deuce (that would be $2).

Powerball is a relatively simple game of chance combining a large jackpot game and a cash game. A minute before 11 p.m., five white balls will be selected out of a drum with 59 balls and one red ball out of a drum with 35 red balls; you win by matching the five white and single red balls.

And the odds of winning tonight? Long odds: try 1 in 175 million. 

Second prize is matching the five white balls; do that and you pocket $1 million. Odds for that combo is much better than the jackpot, only 1 in 5 million. 

You also win by matching the red ball. 

The jackpot is paid out either over 29 years in 30 payments or a lump sum payment. And bring your wheelbarrow: the current payout is $550 million. But that amount is before Uncle Sam gets his hands on the money: expect only to receive $360 million with a winning ticket.

In Belmont, you can pick up your last-second chance of a lifetime at:

A&R Market