Thousands of regular lottery buyers and hundreds of new players are hoping to win this Monday’s accumulated prize of $1,040 million from the Powerball draw.
This juicy amount is the ninth largest amount of a lottery prize in the world and is in fourth place among the largest numbers awarded in this draw.
Since July 19, no one has won, so the prize has increased significantly after 32 consecutive draws in which no player got the numbers of the five white balls and the Poweraball, which awarded the prize.
Powerball was last won in California, when a ticket won a prize worth $1.08 billion.
Powerball claim modalities
Winners have two ways to claim the prize money if they match the numbers.
One is to receive a 30-year annual lifetime amount of a percentage of the money, but historically, most grand prize winners have chosen to receive it as a single, lump sum payment, according to Multi-State Lottery Association.
The name of the person who won the third largest prize in American history will remain anonymous because of a new law in Florida. Anonymity will be 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, which is September 25.
The chance of winning this drawing is one in 292 million, but the low value of the tickets encourages players to spend a few dollars in the hope of becoming a millionaire.
A Powerball ticket costs $2 in most states, and players can pick their own numbers or have a computer pick them.
Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
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