Powerball lottery jackpot reaches $205 million

Oct 6, 2005, 1:54 pm (24 comments)

Powerball

Third player in three weeks wins $1 million Power Play prize

The jackpot in "America's Game" is breaking into new levels capturing the attention of players around the country.

Even though the grand prize was not hit Wednesday evening, 1,021,999 players across the nation won a total of more than $11.2 million in prizes.

Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Wednesday's drawing the jackpot will reach an estimated $205 million.

The cash option for the Saturday, October 8th drawing will be an estimated $101.7 million.

The numbers drawn Wednesday night were 2, 15, 25, 30, 45 and the Powerball was 17. The Power Play multiplier was 5.

Twelve players in the states of Arizona (2), Colorado (2), Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri (2), Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina matched all 5 white balls and won $200,000. One player in Pennsylvania not only won at this prize level, but also very wisely purchased the Power Play option multiplying their winnings 5 times to win $1 million cash.

Sixty-three players matched 4 white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Eight additional players who won at this prize level also purchased the Power Play and had their $10,000 winnings multiplied by 5 to $20,000.

More than 114,000 winning Powerball players multiplied their prizes by 5 Wednesday. They were able to do that by purchasing the Power Play option for one dollar. With Power Play you multiply your Powerball winnings from 2 to 5 times, except for the jackpot. At the beginning of each drawing a wheel is spun to select that night's multiplier.

Players should carefully check their tickets after every draw. Even if there are no jackpot winners there are always tens of thousands of winners at other prize levels.

Players purchased more than $40 million in tickets between Sunday and Wednesday night. The lotteries sold more than $2 billion in Powerball tickets in FY05. That translates into more than $600 million for worthwhile state projects.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

bellyache's avatarbellyache

Oh there was someone in Idaho that matched 5 white balls and I wasn't one of them. Next time.  Heh.  =)

JAG331

These PowerPlay 5+0 winners are getting the equivalent of a $2 million state jackpot!  I remember there have been several discussions on this site about PB and/or MM awarding smaller jackpots to more people rather than a massive jackpot to one person.  I think that Powerball has accomplished this while still keeping the huge grand prize intact.

johnph77's avatarjohnph77

I was in KY when the news broke of the two women residing there who won the million - great story in the Louisville paper, nice pics. They look like two down-to-earth overall nice people, one of whom had just lost her job. I wish them well.

gl

j

Just6ntlc

Well congratulations to PA for purchasing the PP and hitting 5 numbers. I'm happy to see PB tickets with PP win $1 million for the 2nd tier prize. I hope PB hits 364.9 million and then 1 ticket hitting all the PB jackpot of 5 WBs and the red PB. What would happen if PB hits 339.8 million, but no one wins?

Rip Snorter

Those lower tier prizes combined with Powerplay seem to be doing a fine job of work.  Thus far, the only times I've bought Powerplay since the change I either haven't hit, or the PP number was a deuce.  But if the timing lucks out, that PP can surely be a worthwhile way to spend an extra buck.

Jack

bellyache's avatarbellyache

ITA Jack. But I think since PP has started I've only done it once or twice. It's a bit costly for me right now. lol. =)

Chewie

If I hit, do you think I could use that huge cardboard check to get a bank loan until the real money is transferred? No sense hiding out in Motel 8 in Newark, when I could hide out at the Waldorf in NYC.

dvdiva's avatardvdiva

The big check is not a real check hence it's of no value. I would seriously doubt it has legit routing info on it for starters.

Stars's avatarStars

Well congratulations to PA for purchasing the PP and hitting 5 numbers. I'm happy to see PB tickets with PP win $1 million for the 2nd tier prize. I hope PB hits 364.9 million and then 1 ticket hitting all the PB jackpot of 5 WBs and the red PB. What would happen if PB hits 339.8 million, but no one wins?

no body mentioned this, but Pennsylvania has a promotion going when a $5 PB ticket is bought with Powerplay (for $10), you receive one free Powerball ticket with PP. 

 

We'll see if the lucky winner bought the winning ticket, or received it free.

 

Stars

LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

with gas as high as it is i can see powerplay sales being down.especially in the southern states....

Chewie

Well congratulations to PA for purchasing the PP and hitting 5 numbers. I'm happy to see PB tickets with PP win $1 million for the 2nd tier prize. I hope PB hits 364.9 million and then 1 ticket hitting all the PB jackpot of 5 WBs and the red PB. What would happen if PB hits 339.8 million, but no one wins?

no body mentioned this, but Pennsylvania has a promotion going when a $5 PB ticket is bought with Powerplay (for $10), you receive one free Powerball ticket with PP. 

 

We'll see if the lucky winner bought the winning ticket, or received it free.

 

Stars

Wouldn't that frost their whatchamacallits; hitting the big one on a free ticket! The PA offer has been mentioned on other threads.

BTW, New York has one free MM for each five dollar MM. purchase Much better deal. You can also spend the five dollars on multi-draws. Considering the high NY sales, that should result in a lot of free tickets.

JAG331

How is $1 free for $5 purchase better than $2 free for $10 purchase?  Same ratio of an extra 20%

Rip Snorter

How is $1 free for $5 purchase better than $2 free for $10 purchase?  Same ratio of an extra 20%

I think he's saying if you buy five tickets with powerplay they'll give you a sixth one with powerplay.

Jack

JAG331

Right.  20% Free.  If you buy five Mega Millions tickets (Megaplier not available in NY) you will get one free.  Still 20% Free.  How is the MM deal better than the PB deal?

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