Excitement was palpable on Wednesday as the Powerball jackpot rose to a staggering $143 million. Speculation increased after no winners claimed the previous draw on Monday, fueling the dream of becoming an instant multimillionaire.
Should fortune favor Wednesday’s participants, the victor stands to gain a substantial $66.8 million lump-sum bounty after taxes—a figure sourced from the lottery’s current predictions. As this Wednesday’s Powerball drama prepared to unfold, the winning numbers remained a suspenseful secret, slated for public unveiling shortly past 11 p.m., Eastern Time.
Twists and turns from the drawing’s recent history cast a colorful backdrop on the momentous occasion. Just consider the story of the cancer survivor who netted a cool $1.3 billion. The exultant victor revealed that he ‘prayed to God’ for his thrilling victory.
The results of Wednesday night’s Powerball draw proved to be a thrilling sequence. The series of 17, 34, 56, 60 and 61 were accompanied by a Powerball of 9. To better the odds, the Powerplay element, which magnifies non-jackpot winnings, came in at a 2X multiplier.
Details regarding the lucky champion will be unveiled at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, lottery enthusiasts can acquaint themselves with previous victors using the comprehensive list available on the lottery’s website.
Participation in the Powerball evokes a simple process. A visit to a local convenience store, gas station or grocery store will secure a $2 Powerball ticket—although certain states do permit online purchases. Once secured, contenders mark six numbers on their ticket. Five numbers drawn from a scale of 1 to 69 comprise the standard white balls. The potent Powerball is specially colored red and is chosen from a pool of 1 to 26.
Eager to boost the odds, ambitious players can add a “Power Play” for an additional dollar. This clever trap card can multiply winnings up to 10 times for those who miss out on the top prize. For those who favor fate to manual selection, a “Quick Pick” allows for sale attendants to fork over printed tickets bearing computer-generated numbers.
As for the schedule, drawings are regularly conducted thrice a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. And, should the jackpot remain untouched, the cash prize grows by leaps and bounds, stoking the flames for ensuing rounds of this intriguing game.
Tickets aside, one must also understand the fine print of making a purchase. Tickets are available in person at local gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores. If ever at an airport terminal, feel free to try your luck. However, a range of states and territories have embraced technology, allowing purchases through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY network. This innovative platform lets players select their game and numbers, place orders, view tickets, and redeem prizes all from the comfort of a mobile device or home computer. And thoughts become reality—who knows if today’s ticket might just bear tomorrow’s billions.
