Powerball rises to estimated $1.7 billion after no one wins jackpot


Whether you bought a Powerball ticket or forgot — you have another chance to be disappointed on Wednesday, after no one won the $1.5 billion jackpot in Monday’s drawing.

The estimated prize for Wednesday’s drawing rose to $1.73 billion, according to the Powerball website. No one matched the six numbers, meaning the prize rolls over.

The jackpot has been rising sine July, which is the last time someone won the top prize in the multi-state Powerball lottery game.

The chances of hitting all six numbers is 1 in 292.2 million.

If won Wednesday, it would be the second-largest jackpot in the history of the Powerball game.

The record for Powerball was a $2.04 billion winning ticket that was sold in Southern California in November of last year, cashed in by player Edwin Castro. Months later, another man claimed in a lawsuit he had purchased that winning ticket which was stolen from him.

The second-highest for Powerball had been the $1.586 billion jackpot that was won in 2016, and which was split between three tickets in three states.

Powerball can be purchased in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Despite the hype, lottery officials have urged players not to go overboard.

“Playing Powerball or any game offered by the California Lottery is meant to be fun — a simple and enjoyable way to support a great cause,” California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker said in a statement. “Players should not spend above their budget or borrow money to play.”

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