Only one winning ticket was sold for Powerball's $768 million jackpot
The winning Powerball ticket for the $768 million jackpot was sold in New Berlin, Wisconsin, Powerball said early Thursday. The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night jackpot are 16, 20, 37, 44 and 62 and Powerball is 12.
The winnings can be paid out in annuities or there is a one-time cash payout of $465.5 million.
"This is an amazing milestone moment for Wisconsin," said Wisconsin Lottery Director Cindy Polzin. "It truly is incredible to think that the winning ticket for this historic jackpot was sold in our own backyard. I am extremely excited for the winners and for our state. This event puts us in the national spotlight and turns Wisconsin into WINsconsin."
Wednesday's drawing is the third-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history and Powerball's second-largest of all time, according to lottery officials.
Powerball winning numbers:
- 16, 20, 37, 44 and 62
- Powerball: 12
How late can you play Powerball?
Sales cut off at least 59 minutes before the drawing, according to the Multi-State Lottery Commission. But cut-off times can be earlier depending on the state, so it's best to check your state's lottery commission.
Odds of winning
The odds of winning a jackpot remain abysmal at 1 in 302 million for Mega Millions and 1 in 292.2 million for Powerball. You are 25,000 times more likely to hit a hole-in-one than you are of winning a Powerball jackpot.
Who buys lotto tickets?
About two-thirds of Americans gamble. Last year, they spent $72.97 billion on traditional lottery tickets, according to Gallup.
On average, that's $206.69 per person. "Our obsession with lotteries, with gambling, is that unicorn feeling of, like, 'maybe it'll be me,'" CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger said. She points out that some people don't necessarily play to win.
"They just want to take a moment out of their day to consider how to dream big," Schlesinger said.
The average American spends about $223 per year on lottery tickets, according to a survey from LENDedu. Massachusetts residents have the biggest taste for playing the odds, spending almost $763 per year on lottery tickets, the study found. North Dakotans are on the opposite end of the spectrum, spending about $44 per year on the lottery, or the lowest average figure among residents of all 50 states.
