Thanks to math and bad luck, lottery players took another chance at a giant jackpot on Wednesday night, as there was a Powerball prize of $ 731 million.
According to lottery officials, the winning ticket was sold in Maryland and is the fourth largest jackpot in Powerball history. The single ticket sold matches all six figures Wednesday night.
Wednesday’s winning numbers are: 53, 60,40,68,69, Powerball = 22
The jackpot climbed to an estimated $ 731.1 million at the time of the draw with a cash option of $ 546.8 million.
The announcement comes just a day after no one won the even bigger Mega Millions award, which now stands at $ 970 million.
It was the first time both lottery jackpots totaled $ 700 million. The biggest prize was a $ 1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won by three people in 2016.
No one has won one of the jackpots since mid-September, which has seen prices grow for months. Such a long stretch without a winner is rare, but also reflects the incredibly small chance of winning – one out of 292.2 million for Powerball and one out of 302.5 million for Mega Millions.
Maryland Lottery spokeswoman Carole Gentry said the Mega Millions survey reached $ 260 million in sales Tuesday night, resulting in 36% of all possible number combinations being covered.
The prices listed are for winners who choose an annuity option that is paid over 30 years. Most winners opt for cash prizes, which would cost Mega Millions $ 716.3 million and $ 546 million for Powerball.
Prices are also subject to federal taxes, and most states will cut them as well.
Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states as well as Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball is also offered in Puerto Rico.
Look at the ten largest American jackpots won and the states where the winning tickets were sold:
$ 1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)
2. $ 1.537 billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018 (one ticket, South Carolina)
$ 768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, Wisconsin)
$ 758.7 million, Powerball, August 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)
5. $ 687.8 million, Powerball, October 27, 2018 (two tickets, from Iowa and New York)
6. $ 656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)
7. $ 648 million, Mega Millions, December 17, 2013 (two tickets, from California and Georgia)
8. $ 590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (one ticket, from Florida)
$ 587.5 million, Powerball, November 28, 2012 (two tickets, from Arizona and Missouri)
10. $ 564.1 million, Powerball, February 11, 2015 (three tickets, from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas)
ABC OTV contributed to this report.
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