The Powerball jackpot continues to grow after no winners were drawn on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. The prize has now climbed to an estimated $638 million with a cash prize of $321.1 million, making it one of the largest in the game’s history. The winning numbers for the Christmas Day drawing were 5, 12, 20, 24, 29, with the Powerball number being 4 and the Power Play being 2x.
With such a massive jackpot up for grabs, many lottery players are enticed to try their luck. However, the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are extremely slim, with the odds calculated at about one in 292.2 million. The overall odds of winning a Powerball prize (across all tiers) are about one in 24.9.
To participate in the Powerball game, players can purchase a ticket for $2 per play. They must choose five numbers from one to 69 for the white balls and one number from one to 26 for the red Powerball. Alternatively, players can opt to receive random numbers.
In addition to the grand prize, Powerball offers eight other ways to win based on the number of matched balls in the non-jackpot tiers. The non-jackpot prizes offered range from $4 to $1 million. Players can choose to participate in “Powerplay” by paying an additional $1, which increases non-jackpot winnings by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times.
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores, or they can be ordered online through Jackpocket in 19 U.S. states and territories. Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network and allows players to pick their lottery game and numbers, place their order, see their ticket, and collect their winnings using their phone or home computer.
It’s essential to remember that gambling should be done responsibly, and individuals must be of legal gambling age to participate. The official digital lottery courier, Jackpocket, offers resources for individuals who may be experiencing gambling problems.