RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC/AP) — The world’s largest lottery jackpot has grown to $1.5 billion because of continuing strong Powerball ticket sales.
Lottery officials increased their estimate of the huge jackpot for the second day in a row Tuesday because of immense interest in the prize.
The record-breaking Powerball jackpot could grow yet again before Wednesday’s drawing if ticket sales continue to exceed expectations. Officials reassess the estimate daily.
Lottery billboards across the country are broken because of Wednesday’s record Powerball jackpot. The $1.5 billion prize is too large to fit on the electronic lottery billboards, including the signs in Virginia. The “problem” is affecting billboards all over the United States.
Lottery officials call the jackpot “unprecedented.”
The odds of matching all six numbers to win the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.
The $1.5 billion prize would be paid in annual payments over 29 years. Or the winner could opt for a lump-sum payment of $930 million.
Powerball drawings are held at 10:59 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays exclusively on WRIC-TV8 right before 8News at 11.
