Powerball Jackpot Rises To $325 Million
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- People in Minnesota and Wisconsin are getting back into the Powerball frenzy.
There were no winners in Wednesday night's drawing, which was at more than $250 million.The jackpot is now up to $325 million heading into Saturday night's drawing.
Even on Thanksgiving, people in Milwaukee, Wis., were out at convenience stores looking to buy tickets. If you take the cash option as the only winner, you'll take home more than $200 million.
Podcast
Minnesota lottery spokesperson Debbie Hoffman says nothing boosts sales like a big Powerball prize.
"When it gets to be at that level [$325 million] players really start to take notice and they have fun just, you know, thinking, what would I do if I won that money?" Hoffman said.
This is the third time this year the Powerball prize has climbed above $300 million.
The next Powerball drawing is Saturday and remember, tickets are $2 apiece. But just to keep things in perspective, the odds of winning the jackpot is about one in 175 million. If somebody wins it Saturday night and takes the cash option, they'll get a check for $144 million after taxes. Since January, Minnesota players have won four $1 million prizes and one $2 million prize by matching all five white balls plus the Powerball.
It's getting close to the all-time jackpot of $365 million in 2006. That prize was split among eight workers at a Nebraska meat-packing plant.
