Due to math and bad luck, the lottery players had another hit at a giant jackpot on Wednesday night, as a $ 731 million Powerball prize was on the line.
According to lottery officials, the winning ticket was sold in Maryland and is the fourth largest jackpot in Powerball history. The single ticket sold corresponded to all six numbers on Wednesday night.
Wednesday’s winning numbers are: 53, 60,40,68,69, Powerball = 22
The jackpot rose to $ 731.1 million at the time of the draw, with a cash option of $ 546.8 million.
The announcement comes just a day after no one won the Mega Millions and higher prize, which now stands at $ 970 million.
It was the first time that both jackpots in the lottery exceeded $ 700 million. The biggest prize was a $ 1.58 billion Powerball jackpot won by three people in 2016.
No one had won any of the jackpots since mid-September, allowing the prizes to rise steadily for months. Such a long stretch without a winner is rare, but it also reflects the incredibly low odds of winning – one in 292.2 million for Powerball and one in 302.5 million for Mega Millions.
Maryland lottery spokeswoman Carole Gentry said Tuesday night’s Mega Millions draw had sales of $ 260 million, with 36% of all possible combinations being covered.
The prizes listed are for the winners who choose an annuity option, paid over 30 years. Most winners are eligible for cash prizes, which would be $ 716.3 million for Mega Millions and $ 546 million for Powerball.
These awards would also be subject to federal taxes, and most states would also receive a discount.
Mega Millions and Powerball are both played in 45 states, as well as in Washington, DC and the US Virgin Islands. Powerball is also offered in Puerto Rico.
A look at the top 10 American jackpots that have been won and the states in which the winning tickets have been sold:
1. $ 1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee)
2. $ 1.537 billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018 (one ticket, South Carolina)
3. $ 768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019 (one ticket, Wisconsin)
4. $ 758.7 million, Powerball, August 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts)
5. $ 687.8 million, Powerball, October 27, 2018 (two tickets, from Iowa and New York)
6. $ 656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland)
7. $ 648 million, Mega Millions, December 17, 2013 (two tickets, from California and Georgia)
8. $ 590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013 (one ticket, Florida)
$ 9,587.5 million, Powerball, November 28, 2012 (two tickets, from Arizona and Missouri)
10. $ 564.1 million, Powerball, February 11, 2015 (three tickets, from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas)
ABC OTV contributed to this report.
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