The city of Des Moines, Iowa — The world-record $1.9 billion Powerball jackpot drawing set for Monday night was postponed, and it’s probable that the official results won’t be available until Tuesday evening, according to a statement from the Multi-State Lottery Association.
“Before selecting the winning numbers, Powerball requires all 48 participating lotteries to submit their sales and play information. Once Powerball gets the winning entry, the drawing can commence “said the association.
The problem-causing state was not identified.
Powerball was “in discussion with the lottery throughout the night as it worked to remedy the issue,” according to a new statement issued by the association on Tuesday morning.
“Like the rest of America, Powerball is eager to hold its drawing for the world-record jackpot; but, safeguarding the integrity of the drawing is of the utmost importance, even if it means a longer delay,” the statement stated.
Lottery authorities in California tweeted additional information:
The most recent news from Powerball officials. pic.twitter.com/oqwzFNBk9R
— CA Lottery Press (8 November 2022) (@calotterypress)
The winning numbers and a video recording of the drawing will be released on the website and YouTube channel of Powerball. According to a statement from the Multi-State Lottery Association, players should save their tickets.
The jackpot is roughly $400 million larger than Saturday night’s previous record payout of about $1.6 billion and will continue to rise until it is won.
Only four previous jackpots have reached $1 billion, but none have come close to the current one, which began at $20 million on August 6 and has increased exponentially over the past three months. Since August 3, nobody has won the jackpot.
An estimated $1.9 billion would be awarded to a winner who chooses an annuity paid annually over 29 years. Almost all winners choose cash instead, which for Monday’s drawing would amount to $929,1,000,000.
All reward amounts are taxable.
Even as more people lured by the enormous prize spend $2 on a Powerball ticket, the game’s astronomically long odds of 1 in 292.2 million make it likely that another drawing will pass without the big prize being won. The prize for Wednesday’s drawing would then exceed $2 billion.
Those who invest $2 on a Powerball ticket may be perplexed when 40 drawings pass without a jackpot winner, but this is how the game is constructed: The chances of 1 in 292 million make it improbable that anyone will win the reward until the jackpot grows and attracts more participants. The purpose of state lotteries is to raise funds for public programs, therefore increased ticket sales allow the lottery to do so. Still, it’s been a very long time without a jackpot, and if there isn’t a winner by Tuesday evening due to the delay, a new record will be set: 41 drawings without a winner who matched all six numbers.
The sport is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each ticket costs $2 USD.
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, Powerball drawings are aired live and streamed live on Powerball.com.
When purchasing a Powerball ticket, the player must select five numbers between 1 and 69 and one number between 1 and 26, for a total of six numbers on the play slip. Those who would prefer not to choose their own numbers can have the lottery terminal select them at random.
Players who have tickets with numbers that partially match the sequence stated during a drawing are awarded smaller rewards. A ticket must match all six numbers, including the Powerball number, to win the jackpot.
Emily Mae Czachor contributed to the coverage.