Breaking: Powerball Jackpot Keeps Growing, Hits $1 Billion for Halloween Draw

The excitement when the jackpot grows this big definitely becomes contagious Ten figures. Three commas. Any way you say it, someone could be in for a big treat on Halloween.

For the second time in a week, the next Powerball drawing will be the second-highest drawing in its history. The estimated jackpot for the drawing on Monday night will top $1 billion.

On Monday, the non-profit Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), which runs Powerball, said there has been 37 consecutive drawings where no one has matched all six numbers to win the grand prize. The last time a winning ticket matched all six numbers was August 3, 2022, in Pennsylvania.

Powerball reached $800 million after no one won the grand prize following last Wednesday’s drawing. Excitement over the enormous jackpot fueled ticket sales and boosted the jackpot up to $825 million by the time the next drawing was held on Saturday night.

The current jackpot is closing fast on the all-time Powerball grand prize — $1.586 billion, which was drawn on January 13, 2016, and split between winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee. At the rate that the jackpot is growing, it could be the biggest jackpot of all time if no one wins on Monday night and then again on Wednesday, November 2.

MUSL said Monday’s Powerball drawing is also the fifth-largest prize in US lottery history. Powerball is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Although the current jackpot is $1 billion, winners have the option to receive their winnings in one lump sum payment. Currently, that lump sum payment would be approximately $497.3 million. Otherwise, the jackpot is paid in an annuity paid over a 29-year period. Most winners choose the lump sum payment option.

The odds of winning the grand prize are 1-in-292.2 million. The overall odds of winning a prize in Powerball are 1-in-24.9.

State Lotteries Excited By Huge Jackpot

Lottery officials from several states told US Gaming Review that they were excited to see the near-historic jackpot and would be “thrilled” if their state had the eventual winner.

“The excitement when the jackpot grows this big definitely becomes contagious,” said Jennifer Mullen, director of public affairs and community relations for the Virginia Lottery. “Whether it’s a ticket purchased at one of our retail partners or bought online at valottery.com, Virginia would be thrilled to have a big winner in tonight’s drawing.”

Jake Harris, player relations manager for the Michigan Lottery, said “excitement is building throughout Michigan as players take a chance on winning the life-changing $1 billion Powerball jackpot.

“Like everyone who buys a ticket, everyone at the Lottery is hoping to have a big winner in Michigan and we are looking forward to tonight’s drawing.”

Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko called it “an exciting time to be playing Powerball, with the second-largest jackpot in the game’s 30-year history up for grabs.” And in Kansas, Cory Thone, spokesperson for the Kansas Lottery, said “players across the Sunflower State are excited for their chance to make history in tonight’s drawing. We wish everyone the best of luck tonight.”

Harris, Mullen, Svitko, and Thone all urged players to bet responsibly.

MUSL added a third weekly drawing for Powerball in August 2021. At the time, the association’s Powerball Product Group projected that adding a drawing on Monday evenings would result in larger, faster-growing jackpots. Since then, three of the top 10 Powerball jackpots of all time have been (or soon will be) drawn.

Top 10 Powerball Jackpots