Powerball Jackpot Eludes Winner for 40th Time, Expands to $685 Million

Jackpot has a cash value of $485.5 million and is on pace to become second-highest Powerball ever by Saturday, if no one wins by then.
Powerball Jackpot Eludes Winner for 40th Time, Expands to $685 Million
By
October 05, 2021

The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $685 million after no one matched all six numbers on Saturday evening to win the grand prize.

The non-profit Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), which runs Powerball, said there has not been a jackpot winner since the drawing on June 5, when a group of players in Florida won $285.6 million.

Since June 5, the interstate lottery has had a record 40 rollovers. Heading into Saturday evening’s drawing, the jackpot grew to $635 million.

Although the current jackpot totals $685 million, that represents the amount that would be paid if the winner(s) decided to collect in an annuity paid over a 29-year period. Most players decide to collect their winnings in one lump sum payment. The current jackpot has a cash value of $485.5 million.

Just as it was heading into Saturday’s drawing, the current jackpot is the sixth-highest in Powerball history—but just barely. The current fifth-place jackpot, drawn on October 27, 2018, totaled $687.8 million and was shared between one resident of Iowa and one from New York.

At the rate the current jackpot is growing, it could become the fourth-highest jackpot in Powerball history and the largest the interstate lottery has awarded this year if there is still no winner on Monday night. A group from Maryland called The Power Pack won $731.1 million on January 20, after a then-record 35 rollovers. If there is no winner tonight and on Wednesday night, the jackpot could become the second-highest Powerball of all time.

The current record is about $1.6 billion, which was awarded on January 13, 2016, and shared among winners from California, Florida and Tennessee.

“We had robust ticket sales through the weekend, and traditionally, we tend to see the majority of ticket purchases happen the day of a drawing,” May Scheve Reardon, Powerball Product Group Chair and Missouri Lottery Executive Director, said Monday. “Playing for a jackpot of this size is an exciting way to start the week. Please remember, it only takes one ticket to win.”

Since August 23, Powerball has been drawn three times a week, a Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings.

The odds of winning the grand prize are 1-in-292.2 million. The overall odds of winning a prize in Powerball are 1-in-24.9.

Pennsylvania Lottery unveils October promos

The Pennsylvania Lottery has announced several promotions for the month of October.

From October 8 through October 10, the Lottery will offer a Make First Deposit, Get $25 Free Play promotion.

The Lottery will then offer a Deposit $10, Play $10 and Get $75 on Count de Money promotion from October 15 through October 18.

Count de Money is a new online game where players can win up to $300,000. It is a key symbol match-style game that features a chance to multiply a prize up to ten times the original amount. Players can also win an instant cash prize, as well as a chance to activate a bonus game. Count de Money also has an auto play feature where players can automatically play up to 20 rounds.

A third promotion, Deposit $10, Get $50 will be available from October 22 to October 24.

The Lottery said there will be two game releases this month. Extreme Green will be released on October 14, while Matching Through the Snow will be available for players on October 28.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call the Virginia Council on Problem Gambling (VACPG) helpline at 1-888-532-3500

Keep reading: