A Single Powerball Ticket from Oregon Wins $1.32 Billion  

A Powerball ticket sold in Oregon has matched all six Powerball numbers, with the win amounting to $1.326 billion. The winning numbers were white balls 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and Powerball 9.

According to reliable sources from Powerball, the drawing had been delayed for several hours due to pre-draw procedures. The draw was scheduled for 10:59 p.m. ET, but it took place at 2.29 a.m. ET for that reason.

The officials clarified that, according to Powerball rules, every ticket sold nationwide must be checked and verified against two different computer systems before the winning numbers are drawn. This is done to ensure that every winning Powerball ticket sold has been accounted for and has an equal chance of winning.

The $1.32 billion jackpot win marked the fourth largest prize in the history of Powerball and the 8th largest lottery jackpot in US history.

This is the second time the Powerball jackpot has been won this year, with the last win happening on January 1, where a ticket sold in Michigan helped the winner scoop a whopping $842.4 million.

Powerball officials noted that the recent drawing produced over 4.5 million winning tickets, with 5 of these tickets matching all five white balls to win $1 million prizes. These tickets were sold in Florida, Arizona, Iowa, Massachusetts, Delaware, Wyoming, and Michigan.

Why the Jackpot Became so Huge

Normally, the jackpot continues to grow if no one wins it. In this case, there had been 40 consecutive drawings since the last Powerball jackpot was claimed on January 1st.

You see, the odds of winning the recently concluded Powerball jackpot were 1 in 292.2 million. And because this makes it so difficult to hit the jackpot, the top prize had to roll over three times per week in the previous months before it was won.

According to the Oregon Lottery Director, no one in Oregon has ever won a prize on that scale. Normally, winners have up to one year to claim their money.

Claiming Options

The winner can choose to receive the money as a lump sum or an annuity. If they choose a lump sum, they will receive a cash value of $621 million. The lump sum is subject to an automatic 24% tax, and if the winner is from Oregon, the state will take 8% in taxes. In the end, the winner will pocket around $413,440,00 after the above two taxes.

On the other hand, an annuity will be paid over 30 years. This includes an immediate payout followed by 29 annual instalments, with payments increasing by 5% every year.

Powerball Prizes by the Numbers

You must have five numbers plus the Powerball to hit the jackpot. Matching five numbers without the Powerball will get you $1 million, while four numbers plus Powerball gives a prize of $50,000.

If you match four numbers without the Powerball, you will win $100. Three balls plus Powerball also pay $100.

Three numbers receive $7. Two numbers and a Powerball also receive $7.

Lastly, one number plus the Powerball will help you win $4 and a Powerball alone will also help you win $4.

Other Huge Wins That Have Happened in the Previous Years

This is not the only win to surpass $1 billion. Other players have also been lucky to hit the billion-dollar mark in lottery draws. See the table below.

Final Word

The new Powerball jackpot is now at $20 million after the recent reset. The next drawing was scheduled for Monday night, with the jackpot expected to keep growing if no one claims it. Normally, Powerball drawings are held on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays, with each ticket costing $2.

However, the good news for individuals outside the US interested in participating in the Powerball lottery is that they don't have to travel to the US to play Powerball because they can buy Powerball tickets with Lottoland and similar sites offering lotto betting services.