Powerball jackpot builds to $325 million for Saturday
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The Powerball jackpot for Saturday's drawing stands at $325 million - the fourth-largest sum in the game's history.
The record-breaking jackpots aren't likely to stop anytime soon.
Since Powerball tickets doubled in price to $2 in January, the number of tickets sold has decreased, but the sales revenue has made up for it, increasing by about 35 percent, said Norm Lingle, chairman of the Powerball board of directors.
And as the price went up, so did the pots of cash that entice thousands across the country to play.
"Christmas is coming and $325 million would come in handy," said Tim Abel, 63, who was buying a Powerball ticket at New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Broadway stagehand said he usually plays whenever the jackpot goes over $100 million.
Iowa Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer said of the price increase: "... we believed the jackpots would grow fast and grow large because of the change in the game, and it does appear that it is working."
Recent Powerball jackpot winners include an Iowa couple that won a whopping $202 million on Sept. 26. A week later, a Delaware resident picked all six numbers for a $50 million payday.
A single winner on Saturday choosing a cash payout would get nearly $213 million before paying state and federal taxes.
Lottery officials say they're unsure what effect Thanksgiving and beginning of Christmas shopping season will have on Powerball sales. Often, lottery sales pick up considerably in the days before high-dollar drawings when jackpots get so high.
"I think this weekend will be very telling," said Lingle, who is also the executive director of the South Dakota Lottery. "To my knowledge we've never had a large jackpot run like this fall over a major holiday."
Roxie Breece, an assistant manager at a Cenex convenience store in Ogallala, Neb., thinks the long weekend will help. She said Friday that clerks have sold far more Powerball tickets than usual over the past week.
"Tomorrow's going to be a nightmare for us," she said. "With everybody out shopping and the drawing on Saturday, we'll be really busy."
___
Associated Press writers Karen Matthews in New York, and Grant Schulte in Lincoln, Neb., contributed to this report.
The record-breaking jackpots aren't likely to stop anytime soon.
Since Powerball tickets doubled in price to $2 in January, the number of tickets sold has decreased, but the sales revenue has made up for it, increasing by about 35 percent, said Norm Lingle, chairman of the Powerball board of directors.
And as the price went up, so did the pots of cash that entice thousands across the country to play.
"Christmas is coming and $325 million would come in handy," said Tim Abel, 63, who was buying a Powerball ticket at New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Broadway stagehand said he usually plays whenever the jackpot goes over $100 million.
Iowa Lottery spokeswoman Mary Neubauer said of the price increase: "... we believed the jackpots would grow fast and grow large because of the change in the game, and it does appear that it is working."
Recent Powerball jackpot winners include an Iowa couple that won a whopping $202 million on Sept. 26. A week later, a Delaware resident picked all six numbers for a $50 million payday.
A single winner on Saturday choosing a cash payout would get nearly $213 million before paying state and federal taxes.
Lottery officials say they're unsure what effect Thanksgiving and beginning of Christmas shopping season will have on Powerball sales. Often, lottery sales pick up considerably in the days before high-dollar drawings when jackpots get so high.
"I think this weekend will be very telling," said Lingle, who is also the executive director of the South Dakota Lottery. "To my knowledge we've never had a large jackpot run like this fall over a major holiday."
Roxie Breece, an assistant manager at a Cenex convenience store in Ogallala, Neb., thinks the long weekend will help. She said Friday that clerks have sold far more Powerball tickets than usual over the past week.
"Tomorrow's going to be a nightmare for us," she said. "With everybody out shopping and the drawing on Saturday, we'll be really busy."
___
Associated Press writers Karen Matthews in New York, and Grant Schulte in Lincoln, Neb., contributed to this report.
If a Democrat wins, they should donate it all to the State or Federal Government.No tax is a bad tax, no tax is high enough...pay your "fair share".....redistribute the wealth.
Tow the lines Dems...put the money where your moth speaks for everyone else.
You would be part of the 1% crowd, and have at least a 40% Tax bill to the IRS. I bet you won't like those new tax policies anymore.... (sarcasm of course).
Â
I like to play the "what if game" when I blow a dollar or two.
Lets be honest, I'd blow the money on hookers and booze and then buy a new liver and kidneys from Chinese prisoners.
I can only imagine all the wonderful things I could do with that kind of money...between my love for helping my local food bank and senior citizens, I think I would set up a foundation to help finance educations for exceptional students in need, and would buy my husband a tract of land that he could set up for his dream to become an outfitter and hunting and fishing consultant. I don't need anything but some peace and quiet and more time to dedicate to helping others, because there just aren't enough hours in the day to work and do everything else...
Thinking of buying a ticket. Should I win I would donate a great deal to the local homeless shelters and organizations. Been homeless at one time myself and I am grateful to have a job and a roof over my head. Happy Thanksgiving to all and count your blessings.
*looks at his leaky roof, bad hot water tank, and feels the cold draft that his landlord won't fix*
Â
I don't want to win a lot, but just enough.
 @m4a2000 I know the feeling. Just to have things a little better than they are now. Not so rich that I lose the best parts of myself. Just enough to be comfortable and secure.