News Release PDF
DATE: Monday, November 26, 2012
CONTACT: Sally Lunsford (785) 296-5708
sally.lunsford@kslottery.net
Powerball®Excitement Soars with Record $425 Million
Jackpot
~Lottery Players will be Lining up Nationwide to make
History with Wednesday Night's Draw ~
History will be made Wednesday
night when millions of players vie for the biggest
Powerball® jackpot ever
offered by the game. Wednesday's estimated $425 million
jackpot is currently the largest in the world, and is generating
excitement among both the game's loyal players as well as many who
will be playing for the first time.
The previous record-high
Powerball jackpot was $365 million, won in 2006. Kansas Lottery
Director Dennis Wilson says when jackpots move above $250 million,
it's not uncommon to have multiple jackpot
winners.
"With such a large amount of
money at stake, people are more apt to join with office groups,
social clubs, family or friends to purchase a large pool of tickets
together. While having a single winner is great, people also like
to see a group share the wealth," said Wilson.
Prior to Powerball's redesign
in January, many players had been asking for a greater variety of
significant prizes to be available, while still having the ability
to play for the big, multi-million dollar jackpot. The new
prize structure appears to be fulfilling that request, Wilson
said.
Norm Lingle, National Powerball
Chair and the Executive Director of the South Dakota Lottery says
if Wednesday night's draw yields Powerball's largest jackpot winner
ever, that individual or group should prepare for a
once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"The excitement that follows a
win like this is incredible, and players should prepare for it as
best they can. We always advise people to sign the back of their
tickets immediately, put them in a safe place, and be thinking
about the resources they'll need if they do hit the big one, like a
trusted financial advisor; good legal advice; and strong support
from family and friends," said Lingle. "With those elements in
place and the winning ticket, you can be ready to truly enjoy the
win."
Since its inception in April
1992 in 15 states including Kansas, with jackpots that started at a
guaranteed $2 million, Powerball has grown into the world's biggest
and most recognized lottery game. Today it's played in 44
jurisdictions across the nation, with players buying more than $3
billion annually in Powerball tickets. The biggest jackpot in the
game so far was a $365 million prize split by eight co-workers at a
Nebraska meat-packing plant in February 2006.
About Powerball®
Powerball®
drawings are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time,
9:59 p.m. Central Time, 8:59 p.m. Mountain Time and 7:59 p.m.
Pacific Time. For more information about Powerball® please
visit www.powerball.com.
The 44 U.S. lotteries where Powerball® is available are: Arizona
Lottery, Arkansas Lottery, Colorado Lottery, Connecticut Lottery
Corporation, D.C. Lottery & CGCB, Delaware State Lottery,
Florida Lottery, Georgia Lottery Corporation, Hoosier Lottery,
Idaho Lottery, Illinois Lottery, Iowa Lottery, Kansas Lottery,
Kentucky Lottery Corporation, Louisiana Lottery Corporation, Maine
Lottery, Maryland Lott, Massachusetts Lottery, Michigan Lottery,
Minnesota State Lottery, Missouri Lottery, Montana Lottery,
Nebraska Lottery, New Hampshire Lottery Commission, New Jersey
Lottery, New Mexico Lottery Authority, New York Lottery, North
Carolina Education Lottery, North Dakota Lottery, Ohio Lottery,
Oklahoma Lottery, Oregon Lottery, Pennsylvania Lottery, Rhode
Island Lottery, South Carolina Education Lottery, South Dakota
Lottery, Tennessee Education Lottery, Texas Lottery, U.S. Virgin
Islands Lottery, Vermont Lottery, Virginia Lottery, Washington
Lottery, Wisconsin Lottery and the West Virginia Lottery.
Powerball® is owned by the Multi-State Lottery Association which
is a government-benefit, non-profit association owned and operated
by 33 member lotteries. MUSL currently coordinates six multi-state
games in the United States.
Powerball® and Power Play® are
registered trademarks of the Multi-State Lottery
Association.