By Todd Northrop
There was no jackpot winner in the Wednesday night drawing of the multi-state Powerball game, causing the grand prize to increase to an estimated $253 million for Saturday's drawing.
Wednesday was the 13th consecutive drawing without a jackpot winner.
The estimated cash value for the new jackpot is $170.5 Million. After-tax cash and annuity prize amounts are reported state-by-state on the Jackpot Analysis page at USA Mega, a web site devoted to the Powerball and Mega Millions multi-state lottery games.
This is the largest Powerball jackpot since Feb. 11, 2012, when 81-year-old Louise White of Newport, R.I., won a $336.4 million Powerball jackpot (see Rhode Island woman, 81, claims $336 Million Powerball jackpot, Lottery Post, March 6, 2012).
Players should note that jackpot amounts are conservative estimates provided by the lotteries, and are often somewhat higher by the time the drawing occurs.
Even though there were no jackpot winners, 22 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Connecticut, 2 from Florida, 2 from Georgia, 2 from Illinois, 1 from Indiana, 1 from Kansas, 1 from Michigan, 3 from New Hampshire, 3 from New Jersey, 2 from New York, 1 from Ohio, 1 from Oklahoma, 1 from Oregon, and 1 from Washington, D.C.
Of all the second-prize winners, only one ticket from Florida was purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1. Because they purchased the Power Play, that particular ticket is now worth $2 million.
145 tickets matched four white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Of those tickets, 29 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $40,000.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, any non-jackpot prize is increased according to a fixed prize schedule, which can be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Powerball Prize Payouts page at Lottery Post.
The Powerball winning numbers for Wednesday, August 8, were 3, 7, 11, 15, and 28, with Powerball number 12.
Wednesday evening's Powerball jackpot rollover is unusual considering the fact that all of the first five numbers and the Powerball number were less than 31 — "birthday numbers", in lottery lingo. Since one of the most popular ways to play the lottery is to pick numbers based on birthdays of family members, lottery drawings containing all low numbers normally are more likely to produce a jackpot winner. With the larger ticket volume purchased due to the high jackpot, the odds were good that somebody would win it all — and in fact 22 tickets came very close, matching all the numbers except the Powerball number.
Following the Wednesday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $41 million from its previous amount of $212 million. The cash value was raised by $27.6 million from its previous amount of $142.9 million.
The next Powerball drawing will take place Saturday evening at 10:59 pm EDT.
Powerball is now played in 42 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega.
I could live very well on $170.5 million dollars before taxes. (cash option)
Looks like a few birthday/anniversary number players won 2nd and 3rd tier prizes...rolling over at least one more time so I can buy my quick pick for $300 million plus jackpot. Bring it on, come on!
This should jump start the lottery fever again, for which there is no cure.
(Except Winning). 
I never saw so many 1 million dollar winners... simply amazing! My state is in here, Ohio
Good luck to all who play the next drawing.
This balloon will burst Saturday.
The 3 Asset Managers from Connecticut are going to win this jackpot with a $2 Quick Pick Ticket.
i could live off the interest on the interest
Or they will be three lottery commission directors from New York, who were in a pool at work.
How true! Never touch the principal, just give it all to the grand kids, or any kids, or me!
ding ding ding
$253M+
I bet there's 21 people wishin' they'da spent the extra buck.
They will take your money betting $2 on a ticket.
Do you really think that you are going to win? Good luck.
Nah, even if I won, I'd probably still play. Although more scratch-offs than quick picks. I like instant gratification. :-)
You can always play on the day of the drawing.
I thought that birthdays players never win the lottery.Who knows when it comes to random.
I think that many players lost big time on last night drawing. I mean take a look at the amount of replies on this thread.
I consider that a bonus for the years of losing money.
OR PICK YOU FAV SIX NUMBERS MARK EM ON THE COUPON, AND TIME GETTING TO THE STORE 5 MIN BEFORE IT CLOSES LOL just in geting on time will be a thrill
Are you kidding me? Players were complaining about the $2 ticket cost, and you think that they will spend $3 for a single line. It is insane to do that man.
It does not matter when you buy the stupid tickets to win.
I have heard that phrase so many times on lottery post. Good luck.
so 5 min before store closes is a good plan then?
you should try it, maybe this coming PB draw
lol indeed. I always play power play.
The gas station where I buy my PB ticket is opened 24 hours everyday but they stop selling PB ticket for that night's drawing an hour before the drawing. Any PB tickets bought after that will be for the next drawing.
Now there's a smart consumer!
Yeah ok I mean time your entry to the store / gas station 5 min before close off time for the nights draw, with a self picked coupon you filled out.
If that ain't $2's worth of excitement or disappointment i don't know what is.
Insane to spend an extry buck for an extry million?
Not to mention 40K instead of 10K for 4 + 1.
Not to me, Jim.
I only play two lines so it's only a couple extry bucks.
It's only money.
Actually, you aren't supposed to play the powerplay when the jackpot reaches a certain amount. It's something like 80 mil, I think. So, yes, it is insane. If you are one of the people that win a million, then you win a million, that's it, congrats, but you aren't supposed to powerplay at this point.
Oh, I forgot to include: when you don't powerplay, you're supposed to just buy multiple tickets.
im glad we dont have it here. way i see it is , all the losing tickets, and i have many, are paying for the winning tickets to get more. let them pay for their own prizes. id still rather 2x as many chances. but thats just me. also we have quite a few under 41 entries out here. the min entry is 4 lines, but that only cost $2.20c , so its 55c a game,
our power ball is 65c a line and the only big game we have is a 7 from 45 that costs $1.20 ea. i think i would really quit that one if ity went to power play of sorts.
I just got my ticket for saturday so no need for any one to buy any more because I have the winner. Thanks for the support!-weshar75
You mean you have all the second and third prizes tied up as well, all on one ticket. Very impressive weshar75!!!
Guess I'll just paper file those 10 QP's I just bought today, what a waste of $20
Hey, you never know. Somebody might win it.
You are blasting shotgun style like everybody else. Lottery players played heavily last night.
You might get what you wishing for.Good luck.
You have to learn to play your own jackpot or play less often.
$3 for a single line is out of this world. Hell no, hell no. Okay that's enough.
Okay, Mr. 1% keep risking those dollars.
Where in the heck did you hear of that stupid rule?
Must be true,then.
ALL YOU NEED IS A LOTTERY TICKET AND A DREAM TO WIN A JACKPOT SOMEDAY.
GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY.
I am saying I would like a nice prize on saturday night. Either the $40,000 or the $2 million or the Jackpot. I would also settle for a $200 win if the jackpot rolled over for wednesday night too. Good luck to you Mcginnin!-weshar75
Right back at you weshar!
Maybe we'll both go home with a nice check. 
I could live pretty nicely with that $2 million win for a long time too.-weshar75
Bet your Mom would be grinning ear to ear, about that kind of a win!
She went crazy when we had 3 numbers the other night for $14. I can't imagine what she will do if I hit the big one!-weshar75
Supposed to do this?
Not supposed to do that?
Insane?
Who said?
And what's the bulge -- considering you've ruled out getting an extra million dollars if you get 5+0?
ONE more chance in 175 million to win?
Nah.
And if it's just about saving a couple dollars -----------> I really ain't worried about it.
Yay for the rollover! Gonna get some tickets! Good luck to everyone!
And good luck to me, too! 
Good luck, Piaceri!
Roger that, I could see not getting the Powerplay if you're playing a lot of tickets.
But it ain't no big whoop if you're only playing two lines like I do.
Thanks, sugar. Good luck to you and your power play!
I bet there are 22 people wishing they had picked a different power ball.
Yes, I do! And thanks!
$253 million sounds good to me.....