With every ticket purchased, the Powerball jackpot goes up. That’s exactly what’s been happening for the last three-plus months as there hasn’t been a top winner since Sept. 7.
Millions of Americans are hoping that changes Monday night when the next drawing happens, this time for a whopping $1.6 billion. The estimated number marks the fourth-largest prize since the game’s beginning in 1992 and the fifth-largest lottery jackpot ever.
Any potential winner at this point would get a chance to accept their prize in one lump sum or 30 annual payments, which start small and increase each year by 5%. The estimated cash value of the current jackpot stands at $735.3 million.
Monday’s Powerball drawing is scheduled to take place at 9:59 p.m. CT.
While there hasn’t been a winner since two players split a $1.7 billion prize on Sept. 7 – 45 drawings ago – some luck has been on the side of Mississippians when it comes to smaller Powerball prizes. A ticket purchased in Lake ahead of Saturday’s drawing won $150,000 after a ticket purchased earlier in the week in Southaven won $50,000.
“Powerball tickets are $2 per play, with the Power Play option available for an addition $1, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to five times. Players may also add Double Play for $1, giving their Powerball numbers a second chance to win in a separate drawing of its own prize structure,” the Mississippi Lottery Corporation reminded in a press release.
Powerball tickets are available at authorized retailers statewide. Players can check winning numbers and scan tickets using the official Mississippi Lottery mobile app.
Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call the National Council on Problem Gaming’s toll-free helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER.