COLUMBIA, SC (August 14, 2012) – The Powerball® jackpot has swelled to $305 MILLION for Wednesday night’s drawing, making it the fourth largest jackpot in game history.
The winner can elect a cash option of $203 million.
Ticket sales are swift in South Carolina.
“When Powerball® posts a jackpot of this magnitude, it gets attention. Those that don’t play very often decide to take a chance,” said the Lottery’s Executive Director Paula Harper Bethea. “As always, we encourage everyone to please, above all else, play responsibly.”
The odds of winning the jackpot are long, about 1 in 176 million.
This is the second $300 million plus Powerball® jackpot seen this year. In February, the jackpot climbed to $336 million before being hit in Rhode Island.
“We hope a South Carolinian will be the one to stop this jackpot run,” said Bethea. “A $305 million jackpot is exciting for our players and this state, but the real winner is education.”
The last Powerball® jackpot winner in South Carolina was three years ago this month. Solomon Jackson Jr. of Columbia won $259 million.
South Carolinians wanting to take a chance on Wednesday night’s drawing must purchase tickets by 9:59 p.m. for the 10:59 p.m. drawing.
Powerball® tickets cost $2 and are available at lottery retailers statewide.
Players can purchase PowerPlay® for an extra $1 to see their non-jackpot winnings increased by set prize amounts. Match 5 white balls with PowerPlay® to win an automatic $2 million.
Good luck, South Carolina!
# # #
The winner can elect a cash option of $203 million.
Ticket sales are swift in South Carolina.
“When Powerball® posts a jackpot of this magnitude, it gets attention. Those that don’t play very often decide to take a chance,” said the Lottery’s Executive Director Paula Harper Bethea. “As always, we encourage everyone to please, above all else, play responsibly.”
The odds of winning the jackpot are long, about 1 in 176 million.
This is the second $300 million plus Powerball® jackpot seen this year. In February, the jackpot climbed to $336 million before being hit in Rhode Island.
“We hope a South Carolinian will be the one to stop this jackpot run,” said Bethea. “A $305 million jackpot is exciting for our players and this state, but the real winner is education.”
The last Powerball® jackpot winner in South Carolina was three years ago this month. Solomon Jackson Jr. of Columbia won $259 million.
South Carolinians wanting to take a chance on Wednesday night’s drawing must purchase tickets by 9:59 p.m. for the 10:59 p.m. drawing.
Powerball® tickets cost $2 and are available at lottery retailers statewide.
Players can purchase PowerPlay® for an extra $1 to see their non-jackpot winnings increased by set prize amounts. Match 5 white balls with PowerPlay® to win an automatic $2 million.
Good luck, South Carolina!
# # #
1861