Powerball jackpot soars to $1.2B. Here’s how much Pennsylvanians have spent this run

Pennsylvanians playing the Powerball have roughly a 1 in 292.2 million chance of earning a massive jackpot in Wednesday night’s drawing, but that isn’t stopping them from buying tickets lately.

Across the nation, Powerball ticket sales are surging as the game’s latest jackpot soars up to an estimated $1.2 billion. It ranks as the third-largest potential payout in Powerball history.

According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, players have a shot at either the $1.2 billion jackpot paid out in yearly installments or a $551.7 million lump sum before taxes.

The winning numbers in Monday night’s drawing were 12, 26, 27, 43 and 47 with a red Powerball of 5. Winners ultimately have 180 days to claim their prizes, even if they’re not the highly coveted jackpot.

Powerball drawings are scheduled for every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Broadcasts stretch between 11 and roughly 11:25 p.m., available on local television stations or Powerball’s official website.

How many Powerball tickets have been sold in Pennsylvania for the latest run?

Since the current jackpot run began July 22, the Pennsylvania Lottery has sold about 40.1 million plays, an official said Wednesday afternoon. So far, those plays have generated roughly $85.1 million in total sales.

Notably, Powerball gives its players the option to purchase multiple plays on a single ticket. As a result, sales data is determined by the total number of plays, not the number of tickets sold.

The current run has generated approximately $34 million in profits for the Pennsylvania Lottery, which funds programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians, an official said.

Where does the money go?

According to its website, the Pennsylvania Lottery has, since 1972, contributed at least $33.8 billion toward programs that benefit older Pennsylvanians. The lottery says it remains the only state-run lottery that designates all of its proceeds toward such programs.

The Pennsylvania Lottery works with more than 50 agencies throughout 67 counties to coordinate services for older Pennsylvanians. These include assessments and program referrals, home-delivered meals, health insurance counseling, legal assistance, low-cost prescription drugs, transportation, senior centers and more.

You can read more about the lottery’s benefits and programs, including enrollment opportunities, by visiting palottery.state.pa.us/benefits/benefits-info/benefits_guide.aspx online.

How can I play Powerball?

Powerball players choose five white ball numbers between one and 69 and one Powerball number between one and 26. If you aren’t feeling lucky, the Quick Pick function can have a computer generate those numbers for you.

Each Powerball play costs $2, but an additional $1 fee can add a Power Play to your card to multiply any potential winnings, excluding the coveted jackpot.

The overall chances of winning a prize on a Powerball play are roughly 1 in 24.87, the Pennsylvania Lottery estimates. The odds of cracking a $1 million prize are about 1 in 11.7 million.

You can purchase Powerball tickets online at palottery.state.pa.us or at any official lottery retailer. Visit palottery.state.pa.us/about-pa-lottery/retailers.aspx to search for a retailer near you by entering your address, city or ZIP code.

Players in Pennsylvania can take several steps to limit their gambling. The state lottery recommends setting budgets online, scheduling cool-off periods or self-excluding from online games, among other strategies.

If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available by calling 1-800-522-4700.