$403 MILLION: Red hot Powerball jackpot rolls again

Feb 19, 2017, 9:47 am

12th-largest cash value in US history
By Todd Northrop
This week Powerball is the hot ticket, featuring a lump-sum cash payout of nearly a quarter billion dollars.
The new high-water mark of $403 million for the current Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was achieved after no winning tickets were sold for Saturday night's $361 million grand prize.
The lump-sum cash payout value of Wednesday's Powerball jackpot is $243.9 million — the 12th-largest ever recorded in United States lottery history.  (See top 25 annuity and cash values below.)
Players looking to calculate what they would receive after the initial federal and state tax withholdings can find it all pre-calculated for each Powerball jurisdiction on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded was on January 13, 2016, when three tickets from California, Florida, and Tennessee shared a $1.6 billion grand prize.  The Florida and Tennessee winners claimed their prizes quickly, but the California winner waited about six months to claim their share.
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.  For example, the original estimate for Saturday's drawing was $349 million, but by the time all the proceeds were counted just before draw-time, the jackpot had swelled to $361 million.
Wednesday's mammoth prize is the result of 18 consecutive draws without a winner.  The run-up started as a $40 million prize on Dec. 21, 2016.
The winning numbers for Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 were 3, 7, 9, 31, and 33, with Powerball number 20.  The Power Play number was 3.
Even though nobody won the jackpot Saturday, 9 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Louisiana, 1 from Maryland, 1 from New Jersey, 1 from New York, 2 from Pennsylvania, 1 from Rhode Island, and 2 from Texas.
Three of the second-prize winners purchased the Power Play option — one of the tickets sold in Pennsylvania, the ticket sold in Rhode Island, and one of the tickets sold in Texas.  Those three lucky ticket-holders will have their prize automatically doubled to $2 million.
Power Play is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered in Power Play is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts. By law, California awards all prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold and the number of tickets that won at each prize level.
The California prize pool for second prize was $402,218 this drawing, which would have been split by any players matching all five numbers in that state. Now that prize money will be rolled into the prize pool for the California second prize next drawing.
58 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $50,000.  Of those tickets, 3 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $150,000, and 7 of the tickets were sold in California, where the prize was worth $14,709 this drawing.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $42 million from its previous amount of $361 million. The cash value was raised by $23.5 million from its previous amount of $220.4 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Wednesday night at 10:59 pm Eastern Time.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, second-prize winners have their prizes automatically doubled to $2 million, while all other non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by the Power Play number drawn that evening. All prize payout amounts, including Power Play multipied prizes, can be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Powerball Prize Payouts page at Lottery Post.
Powerball is now played in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.  Tickets cost $2 each.
Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com).  The USA Mega Web site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Wednesday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 14th-largest lottery jackpot of all time in the United States.  That position may rise before the drawing, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.

1. Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 - California, Florida, Tennessee
2. Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
3. Mega Millions: $636 million, Dec. 17, 2013 - California, Georgia
4. Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 - Florida
5. Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 - Arizona, Missouri
6. Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 7, 2015 - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
7. Mega Millions: $536 million, Jul. 8, 2016 - Indiana
8. Powerball: $487 million, Jul. 30, 2016 - New Hampshire
9. Powerball: $448.4 million, Aug. 7, 2013 - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
10. Powerball: $429.6 million, May 7, 2016 - New Jersey
11. Powerball: $425.3 million, Feb. 19, 2014 - California
12. Powerball: $420.9 million, Nov. 26, 2016 - Tennessee
13. Mega Millions: $414 million, Mar. 18, 2014 - Florida, Maryland
14. Powerball: $403 million, Feb. 22, 2017 - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
15. Powerball: $399.4 million, Sep. 18, 2013 - South Carolina
16. Mega Millions: $390 million, Mar. 6, 2007 - Georgia, New Jersey
17. Mega Millions: $380 million, Jan. 4, 2011 - Idaho, Washington
18. Powerball: $365 million, Feb. 18, 2006 - Nebraska
19. The Big Game: $363 million, May 9, 2000 - Illinois, Michigan
20. Powerball: $340 million, Oct. 19, 2005 - Oregon
21. Powerball: $338.3 million, Mar. 23, 2013 - New Jersey
22. Powerball: $337 million, Aug. 15, 2012 - Michigan
23. Powerball: $336.4 million, Feb. 11, 2012 - Rhode Island
24. Mega Millions: $336 million, Aug. 28, 2009 - California, New York
25. The Big Game: $331 million, Apr. 16, 2002 - Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey

The number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:

• Powerball: 16
• Mega Millions: 7
• The Big Game: 2

The Big Game is the original name of Mega Millions, from the game's first drawing on Sep. 6, 1996 through May 14, 2002.  The name was changed to Mega Millions starting with the May 17, 2002 drawing.
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.
The upcoming Powerball jackpot ranks as the 12th-largest cash value in U.S. history.

1. Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
2. Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
3. Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
4. Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 7, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
5. Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
6. Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
7. Mega Millions: $347.6 million cash, Dec. 17, 2013 ($636 million annuity) - California, Georgia
8. Powerball: $336.8 million cash, Jul. 30, 2016 ($487 million annuity) - New Hampshire
9. Powerball: $284 million cash, May 7, 2016 ($429.6 million annuity) - New Jersey
10. Powerball: $258.2 million cash, Aug. 7, 2013 ($448.4 million annuity) - Minnesota, New Jersey (2)
11. Powerball: $254.7 million cash, Nov. 26, 2016 ($420.9 million annuity) - Tennessee
12. Powerball: $243.9 million cash, Feb. 22, 2017 ($403 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
13. Mega Millions: $240 million cash, Jan. 4, 2011 ($380 million annuity) - Idaho, Washington
14. Mega Millions: $233.1 million cash, Mar. 6, 2007 ($390 million annuity) - Georgia, New Jersey
15. Mega Millions: $230.9 million cash, Mar. 18, 2014 ($414 million annuity) - Florida, Maryland
16. Powerball: $227.8 million cash, Feb. 19, 2014 ($425.3 million annuity) - California
17. Powerball: $224.7 million cash, Aug. 15, 2012 ($337 million annuity) - Michigan
18. Powerball: $223.3 million cash, Sep. 18, 2013 ($399.4 million annuity) - South Carolina
19. Mega Millions: $214 million cash, Aug. 28, 2009 ($336 million annuity) - California, New York
20. Powerball: $211 million cash, Mar. 23, 2013 ($338.3 million annuity) - New Jersey
21. Powerball: $210 million cash, Feb. 11, 2012 ($336.4 million annuity) - Rhode Island
22. Mega Millions: $202.9 million cash, Mar. 25, 2011 ($319 million annuity) - New York
23. Mega Millions: $197.5 million cash, Nov. 4, 2014 ($321 million annuity) - New York
24. Powerball: $197.4 million cash, Sep. 30, 2015 ($310.5 million annuity) - Michigan
25. Mega Millions: $194.4 million cash, Aug. 31, 2007 ($330 million annuity) - Maryland, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia

The number of jackpot cash values in the top 25, by lottery game, are:

• Powerball: 15
• Mega Millions: 10

Britain's youngest EuroMillions winner planning to sue lottery for 'ruining' her life

Feb 14, 2017, 9:36 am

 

4.84

Britain's youngest EuroMillions lottery winner has revealed she is planning to take legal action against the lottery for negligence.
Jane Park, who won £1 million (US$1.25 million) at the age of 17, said winning the windfall had "ruined" her life and she often thought things would have been better if she had never won.
Ms Park, now 21, argued that someone of her age should not have been allowed to win such a substantial sum of money. She said 18 should be the minimum age for winning the lottery and suggested the current limit of 16 was too young.
She said she had become bored of relentless consumption and felt like it failed to offered long-term genuine happiness. Before winning the lottery, Ms Park, who now owns two properties, worked as an admin temp for £8 an hour and lived in a small flat with her mum in Edinburgh.
"I thought it would make it 10 times better but it's made it 10 times worse. I wish I had no money most days. I say to myself, 'My life would be so much easier if I hadn't won'," she told the Sunday People.
"People look at me and think, 'I wish I had her lifestyle, I wish I had her money.' But they don't realise the extent of my stress. I have material things but apart from that my life is empty. What is my purpose in life?"
"I think 18 should be the minimum age for winning the lottery, at the least. The current age of 16 is far too young."
Despite the fact that Camelot, which runs EuroMillions in the UK, appointed an adviser to help Ms Park deal with her newly accumulated wealth, she said it was family advice that helped her keep her spending in check.
"I've read about other lottery winners who've just blown it all and I can totally see how it can be done," she said. "I was stuck in front of a financial adviser who was using words like investment bonds. I had no clue what they meant."
Ms Park said it was unsettling how differently her life had turned out from her friends, making her feel isolated.
"It's scary how different my life is from my friends'. When they say they're stressed about the money they mean their wages are s***," she said. "There's no one in the same boat as me, no one who really understands. I feel like I'm a 40-year-old."
A spokesperson for Camelot told The Independent: "Camelot takes its duty of care to winners very seriously and all major winners are offered support and advice for as long as they wish. That support is tailored to each winner's situation and circumstances — and for younger winners, their age will obviously be an important factor in the advice and support offered. 
"Following her win, Jane received extensive support from Camelot," it continued. "A dedicated winners' adviser visited Jane at home to pay out her prize, arrange private banking and support her through the publicity when she chose to share news of her win.  An independent financial and legal panel was set up shortly after her win and we put Jane in touch with another winner who won at the same age, to share their experience and help Jane adjust to the win.
"We keep in contact with all major winners for as long as they wish and have been in touch with Jane from time to time since her win to offer ongoing support. Of course, it is always up to the winners themselves as to whether they want to take us up that ongoing support and advice — but the door is always open and we will continue to support Jane in any way we can if that is what decides she wants."
Camelot said the minimum age limit to play the lottery was an issue for Parliament to deal with.
"Anyone over the age of 16 can play the lottery, and therefore win a prize," they said in a statement. "Camelot doesn't set the age limit to play — this was agreed at the launch of the National Lottery back in 1994 and so any questions about the legal age to play would be a matter for Parliament."
While most who play the lottery fantasise about the moment of winning the jackpot, the reality of winning can be more complicated. There are numerous stories of lottery winners who have struggled to get used to quitting their jobs and becoming rich overnight.
Callie Rogers, who was 16 and earning £3.60 an hour when she won a National Lottery jackpot worth £1,875,000 in 2003, struggled to adjust to her newfound wealth. She went on a spending spree and is reported to have tried to kill herself.
Ironically, Rogers has said she is much happier now she has spent her fortune. "I don't think of myself as a lottery winner — I try to forget the ups and downs I've been through and just feel like a normal person," she explained in 2013.
"It was too much money for someone so young. Even if you say your life won't change, it does — and often not for the better."

Jane Park, who won £1m aged 17, said someone of her age should not have been allowed to win such a large amount of money.

Georgia Lottery to add extra Cash 3, Cash 4 drawings

Feb 10, 2017, 11:49 am

 

53

Georgia Lottery daily numbers games players will get extra opportunities to play every day starting Sunday.
Beginning on Feb. 12, the Georgia Lottery is adding an additional Cash 3 drawing late at night, and an extra Cash 4 drawing in the early evening.  The new drawings mean that a total of three Cash 3 and Cash 4 drawings will be held every day, at the same times.
The current drawing schedule is a bit odd, with Cash 3 and Cash 4 both holding a midday drawing at 12:29 p.m., but then different times for their evening drawings, with the Cash 3 evening drawing held at 6:59 p.m. and Cash 4 at 11:34 p.m.
The new schedule adds a Cash 3 drawing at 11:34 p.m. and a Cash 4 drawing at 6:59 p.m., so that each of the three draw times will feature drawings for both games.
It has been 16 years since a drawing has been added to either game. On Feb. 5, 2001, the Georgia Lottery added midday drawings to the Cash 4 game.
Aside from the new drawings, the other aspects of the games remain unchanged.

S.C. man wins lottery jackpot twice

Feb 9, 2017, 2:21 pm

 

51

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina man became a two-time lottery winner in a single day when he cashed in a pair of tickets worth $100,000 and $200,000.
The lucky Darlington resident has been playing the Palmetto Cash 5 daily drawing game for more than a decade, trying out different strategies to win, and yesterday he cashed in two winning tickets worth $100,000 and $200,000.
"This is life changing," he said.
His idea to quick pick five numbers at the Situ LLC on South Main St. and then drive three miles to the EZ Shop on Pearl St. and play those same numbers for a second time paid off.
"I'm paying off my house," he said. "I'm debt free."
On the local news he heard where two stores in Darlington sold winning lottery tickets. He checked his tickets and discovered both wins were his. His two tickets matched all five numbers drawn on Monday, January 30 (6, 12, 16, 28, and 36).
And he says he'll keep playing.
"Yes, of course," he said. "I'm looking forward to it."
Because he Powered-up the second ticket, his $100,000 prize was doubled to $200,000 when a "2" multiplier was selected.
The odds of winning $100,000 playing Palmetto Cash 5 are 1 in 501,942. The odds of winning $200,000 playing Palmetto Cash 5 are 1 in 1,003,884.
The odds of winning both prizes in the same drawing were seemingly unlikely, until now.

18-year-old wins $1M Powerball prize

Feb 4, 2017, 10:57 am

 

4.52

SOMERSET, Ky. — An 18-year-old Kentucky woman has won $1 million from Wednesday night's Powerball drawing.
Tanya Herrera, 18, of Campbellsville, Kentucky, won by matching the five white-ball winning numbers on her ticket but not the Powerball.
The computer-generated quick pick ticket chose 22 as her Powerball number, but 10 is what was drawn for the $206 million jackpot.
Herrera, who was in Somerset visiting her father, says she doesn't have much experience playing the lottery.
After checking the winning numbers on the internet, her dad suggested she go to the store to check it.
"I really didn't know what to do," Herrera said. "I scanned it myself and when I saw $1 million pop up on the machine, I thought it was broken."
Herrera says she'll use some of her winnings toward college tuition and is considering attending Western Kentucky University.

Tanya Herrera, 18, of Campbellsville, Kentucky, won $1 million in Wednesday's Powerball drawing.

Woman finds $100,000 lottery ticket while cleaning

Feb 1, 2017, 2:55 pm

 

52

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Lottery officials say a Georgia woman found a winning Powerball ticket in a stack of old tickets.
The discovery was made while cleaning. The winning ticket was purchased last September in Simpsonville, South Carolina. Officials said in a news release that the woman was visiting family in the Upstate when she bought the winning ticket at Mit Food Mart on West Georgia Road.
"My New Year's resolution was to not let stuff pile up," she said.
The ticket is worth $100,000. Along with that win, she found more winning tickets from S.C. and Georgia totaling $30.
Lottery officials say the winner was relieved to find the ticket before time ran out to claim her prize.
The odds of matching four white ball numbers and the red Powerball number are 1 in 913,129. The odds of a 2X multiplier being selected are 1 in 1.75.
Players have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize.
For selling the claimed ticket, Mit Food Mart in Simpsonville received a commission of $1,000.

$4.5 million Hoosier Lotto winning ticket set to expire

Jan 31, 2017, 2:25 pm

 

00

A lottery ticket worth $4.5 million bought at an Indianapolis grocery store last August is set to expire in two weeks.
The Hoosier Lotto ticket was purchased at Marsh Supermarket located at 1435 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, Indiana, and matched all 6 numbers. The Aug. 17, 2016, winning numbers were 16, 17, 19, 22, 43, and 44.
The ticket holder has until 5 p.m. EDT on Feb. 13, 2017, to claim the winnings. The ticket holder should sign the back immediately and contact Hoosier Lottery customer service at 1-800-955-6886 for specific claim instructions. The prize must be claimed at Hoosier Lottery headquarters in Indianapolis.
All Hoosier Lottery draw game prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing.
The odds of winning the jackpot in the Hoosier Lotto game are 1 in 9,366,819.