Easter sales dip might be holding it back
By Todd Northrop
The near-billion-dollar Powerball jackpot grew again last night, but perhaps not as much as it would have if this weren't Easter weekend.
The latest increase of the current lengthy Powerball jackpot run comes after nobody won last night's drawing, sending the Monday jackpot ever closer to heights that once seemed unattainable for a lottery game.
Monday's Powerball jackpot is currently estimated at $975 million, with a lump-sum cash value of $471.7 million. And based on past multi-state lottery jackpots, that estimate may get bigger by the time the drawing kicks off Monday night.
To get to this size, the jackpot has been growing since it started on January 3 as a $20 million prize — now 38 consecutive drawings without a winner.
Monday's $975 million Powerball jackpot is the 5th-largest in the game's history, and the 11th-largest lottery jackpot in world history. The lump-sum cash value of $471.7 million is the 15th-largest on the all-time lottery jackpot cash value rankings (see full list below).
Since seasonality and historical trends are factored into jackpot estimates, it is possible that lottery officials held back the estimate for Monday's drawing due to a natural slowdown in sales over Easter weekend. Lottery Post published a video about how lottery jackpots are calculated that covers this concept and several others that factor into calculating jackpot estimates.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever awarded was on Nov. 7, 2022, when one ticket sold in California won a $2 billion grand prize. The incredibly lucky winner was Edwin Castro, who claimed the prize in February of 2023, providing minimal public information about himself. What little is known about Castro comes from public filings, and includes the purchases of houses one, two, and three, as well as being the subject of dubious lawsuits that are unfortunately predictable these days.
Lottery players dreaming what all the cash will look like in their bank account after federal and state taxes are taken out can see an after-tax analysis of the current Powerball jackpot by visiting USA Mega's Powerball Jackpot Analysis page. Rather than simply showing the initial withholdings a lottery winner would face like other "copy cat" websites, the Jackpot Analysis page also includes the additional taxes that will be due after the initial withholdings, and will even allow players to see the taxes due under different filing statuses.
The rush of ticket sales over the next few days likely will propel the jackpot to an even higher amount before the drawing takes place Monday. Lottery Post and USA Mega will update the jackpot tallies displayed if such an increase occurs.
The quickest way to find the winning numbers after the drawing Monday will be by visiting USA Mega (www.usamega.com) at 10:59 pm Eastern Time (7:59 pm Pacific), when the winning numbers will be published minutes after they are drawn.
Players looking for the nearest official lottery retailer — or maybe just a different store without such a long line — are urged to use the free Lottery Places app available for iOS, Android, and Windows. The app can find lottery stores in every Powerball state and can search across state lines — something even official state lotteries can't do.
Some states offer direct online sales, allowing players to bypass the store and purchase tickets from home. Players can see if they can play Powerball online by tapping the link. Depending on the physical location of the person, the link will either provide access via a licensed butler service or the official state lottery itself.
Butler services provide scanned copies of the purchased lottery tickets securely held on behalf of the customer. In the past, such lottery ticket services were used by people out side the USA to win big jackpots in Oregon and Florida.
In Saturday night's Powerball drawing, there was no jackpot winner, but 4 lucky players matched the first 5 numbers for a $1,000,000 prize: 1 from Illinois, 1 from Louisiana, 1 from Michigan, and 1 from Pennsylvania.
None of the second-prize tickets was purchased with the Power Play option, which would have doubled their prize to $2 million if they purchased the $1 option.
When a Powerball ticket is purchased with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket, a second-prize win is doubled and any other non-jackpot prize is multplied by the Power Play number drawn that evening. A complete list of prizes available for matching various numbers can be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega, as well as on the Powerball Prize Payouts and the Powerball Double Play Prize Payouts pages at Lottery Post.
The official drawing videos can also be found on the Powerball Drawing Detail page at USA Mega.
The Power Play option is not available in California, because the fixed nature of the prize increase offered with the Power Play is not compatible with California's pari-mutuel payouts. By law, California awards all lottery prizes on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning the prizes will change each drawing based on the number of tickets sold within California and the number of tickets that won at each prize level in the state.
Also in Saturday's drawing, a total of 66 tickets matched four of the first five numbers plus the Powerball to win a $50,000 prize. Of those tickets, 11 were purchased with the Power Play option, increasing the prize to $150,000, and 13 were sold in California, where the prize awarded this drawing is $13,778.
The Powerball winning numbers for Saturday, March 30, 2024, were 12, 13, 33, 50, and 52, with Powerball number 23. The Power Play number was 3.
The Saturday Double Play drawing results were 20, 29, 43, 57, and 63, with Powerball number 16. Double Play is a game option currently available in 18 states that lets you play your numbers in a second drawing for an extra $1 per play, with a chance to win up to $10 million in cash. See How to Play Powerball at USA Mega for more information about Double Play.
Following the Saturday drawing, the Powerball annuity jackpot estimate was raised $23.9 million from its previous amount of $951.1 million. The cash value was raised by $11.6 million from its previous amount of $460.1 million.
Powerball is currently offered for sale in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 pm Eastern Time. Tickets cost $2 each.
Powerball lottery results are published within minutes of the drawing at USA Mega (www.usamega.com). The USA Mega Web site provides lottery players in-depth information about the United States's two biggest multi-state lottery games, Mega Millions and Powerball.
Top 25 United States lottery jackpots of all time
Monday's Powerball jackpot currently stands as the 11th-largest lottery jackpot in world history. That position may rise before the drawing, as lotteries are typically conservative in their initial estimates, and brisk sales may push the jackpot estimate higher by draw time.
- Powerball: $2.0401 billion, Nov. 7, 2022 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $1.7649 billion, Oct. 11, 2023 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023 (31 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $1.5864 billion, Jan. 13, 2016 (19 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023 (25 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maine
- Mega Millions: $1.337 billion, Jul. 29, 2022 (29 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $1.128 billion, Mar. 26, 2024 (30 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $1.0798 billion, Jul. 19, 2023 (38 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Mega Millions: $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021 (36 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $975 million, Apr. 1, 2024 (38 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Powerball: $842.4 million, Jan. 1, 2024 (34 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Michigan
- Powerball: $768.4 million, Mar. 27, 2019 (25 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Wisconsin
- Powerball: $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023 (33 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Washington
- Powerball: $731.1 million, Jan. 20, 2021 (35 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - Maryland
- Powerball: $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021 (40 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California
- Powerball: $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018 (21 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Iowa, New York
- Mega Millions: $656 million, Mar. 30, 2012 (18 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Mega Millions: $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013 (21 rollovers, starting at $12 million) - California, Georgia
- Powerball: $632.6 million, Jan 5, 2022 (39 rollovers, starting at $20 million) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $590.5 million, May 18, 2013 (13 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Florida
- Powerball: $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012 (15 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $564.1 million, Feb. 11, 2015 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Powerball: $559.7 million, Jan. 6, 2018 (20 rollovers, starting at $40 million) - New Hampshire
For those keeping score, the number of jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 17
- Mega Millions: 8
Top 25 cash value jackpots
Since many lottery winners collect their winnings in cash, the lump-sum payout is an important measure of what a winning ticket could be worth.
Looking at the cash value, the upcoming Powerball jackpot ranks as the 15th-largest cash value in world history.
- Powerball: $997.6 million cash, Nov. 7, 2022 ($2.0401 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $983.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2016 ($1.5864 billion annuity) - California, Florida, Tennessee
- Mega Millions: $877.8 million cash, Oct. 23, 2018 ($1.537 billion annuity) - South Carolina
- Mega Millions: $794.2 million cash, Aug. 8, 2023 ($1.602 billion annuity) - Florida
- Mega Millions: $780.5 million cash, Jul. 29, 2022 ($1.337 billion annuity) - Illinois
- Mega Millions: $776.6 million cash, Jan. 22, 2021 ($1.05 billion annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $774.1 million cash, Oct. 11, 2023 ($1.7649 billion annuity) - California
- Mega Millions: $723.5 million cash, Jan. 13, 2023 ($1.348 billion annuity) - Maine
- Powerball: $558.1 million cash, Jul. 19, 2023 ($1.0798 billion annuity) - California
- Powerball: $546.8 million cash, Jan. 20, 2021 ($731.1 million annuity) - Maryland
- Mega Millions: $536.6 million cash, Mar. 26, 2024 ($1.128 billion annuity) - New Jersey
- Powerball: $496 million cash, Oct. 4, 2021 ($699.8 million annuity) - California
- Powerball: $480.5 million cash, Aug. 23, 2017 ($758.7 million annuity) - Massachusetts
- Powerball: $477 million cash, Mar. 27, 2019 ($768.4 million annuity) - Wisconsin
- Powerball: $471.7 million cash, Apr. 1, 2024 ($975 million annuity) - Preliminary estimate, not won yet
- Mega Millions: $471 million cash, Mar. 30, 2012 ($656 million annuity) - Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- Powerball: $450.2 million cash, Jan. 5, 2022 ($632.6 million annuity) - California, Wisconsin
- Powerball: $425.2 million cash, Jan. 1, 2024 ($842.4 million annuity) - Michigan
- Powerball: $407.2 million cash, Feb. 6, 2023 ($754.6 million annuity) - Washington
- Powerball: $396.2 million cash, Oct. 27, 2018 ($687.8 million annuity) - Iowa, New York
- Powerball: $384.7 million cash, Nov. 28, 2012 ($587.5 million annuity) - Arizona, Missouri
- Powerball: $381.1 million cash, Feb. 11, 2015 ($564.1 million annuity) - North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- Mega Millions: $378 million cash, Jul. 8, 2016 ($536 million annuity) - Indiana
- Powerball: $370.9 million cash, May 18, 2013 ($590.5 million annuity) - Florida
- Powerball: $352 million cash, Jan. 6, 2018 ($559.7 million annuity) - New Hampshire
The number of cash value jackpots in the top 25, by lottery game, are:
- Powerball: 17
- Mega Millions: 8
Thank you posting the standings in large lottery jackpots.
Won't go out on a limb to expect $25 million be added to the kitty before tomorrow.
Happy Easter every one!
talk about AI,i got 25 numbers and ony one i got in drawing=15 dollars worth,thanks to computers.
Thinking Cap on
Turning $2 Into $975 Million Dollars. Good Luck 🍀
Goodbye 1995 Honda Accord. Hello 2024 Acura NSX
Like they say, "you have to be in it to win it"
On that note, I got my one PB with PP and my one MM with the multiplier.
Who said that 36M is not a significant amount.
The around 10M after taxes is a lot of money - let's not pretend that our lives can only be changed by 100M
I would still buy a ticket if the jackpots reset at 10M.
Good luck to all.
I'm in it too. I picked up four lines, one for each $100million of the cash prize. If it breaks $500million cash before lunch time tomorrow, I'll pick up one more line.
I'm in MegaMillions too with one line. Less than $100million would definitely make a difference in my life.
Happy Holy Easter to everyone!
I had two draws that shared the same four numbers on them ..... 3 out of 5 and the megaball .. thought something might come of it but, alas just two more losing tickets .
Anyway, is it me or have you too thought the number 23 is being drawn a lot for the Powerball and Megaball lately ?
Back to my traditional Easter meal of liverwurst with Swiss, tomato, red onion arugula and Dijon mustard on rye with a side of 3 gherkin pickles and a bowl of sweet potato chips ..... .and a sasparilla soda to drink it down with.
Thank you and good day!
Just increased 40 million, Power Ball is coward and sucks!!
Not really cuz the final tally for Saturday's jackpot was 951.1 mil so it's really a 23.9 mil increase for monday which isn't anything to sneeze at considering it's Easter weekend and all.
P.U.: who boiled the eggs
who stepped in the dog bleep
Best of luck to all that play on this website 👍 I will be getting my 5 qp for tomorrow morning for powerball megabucks and megamillions. Powerplay and multiply options as well. Wouldn't it be awesome to hit big on April's fools day!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL PHAZERS ON STUN........KIRK OUT
That's commendable, almost 30 y.o.
"Just increased 40 million, Power Ball is coward and sucks!! "
That's almost half of the actual increase from Wednesday to Saturday. I wouldn't start at anything higher than that for a Monday drawing if I was in charge, because the jump is almost always smaller than the previous Wednesday to Saturday jump. When it's all done the cash jackpot is always the result of actual sales and the annuity is always the amount the cash can earn based on the current interest rates.
"Won't go out on a limb to expect $25 million be added to the kitty before tomorrow. "
I think people are mostly too hopeful/optimistic about how much it will increase, but this time around I won't be surprised if what looks like a $40 million increase turns out to be what looks like a $65 million increase because we might really be needing a $49 million increase. They never bumped up the original forecast for $935 million for Saturday, but it actually finished at 951. I don't have a clue about what they actually thought about Saturday's final tally when they announced Monday's jackpot on Friday, but the forecast for a $40 million increase could make it 991 if they hadn't already accounted for the extra $16 million. It's also possible that a minor change in the interest rate will give us a jackpot they claim is a billion while the cash value is less than the $481.18 billion we'd see based on the current rate. Recently those interest rates have been changing like gas prices so I'm not going to make any guesses if or which way they'll change.