Powerball Jackpot Reaches $120 Million
The next Powerball drawing is set for Saturday, May 25, with an estimated jackpot of $120 million. This comes after no one claimed the $100 million jackpot on Wednesday, May 22. The winning numbers for that drawing were 5, 16, 18, 26, and 67, with the Powerball number being 4. One lucky ticket holder in California matched five numbers, winning a $1 million prize.
Winning Numbers for May 25 Drawing
For the upcoming drawing, the winning numbers to look out for are 6, 33, 35, 36, and 64, with the Powerball number being 24. The Power Play multiplier is set at 3x. If no one matches all six numbers, the jackpot will roll over again, increasing the prize for the next drawing.
Historical Context and Recent Wins
The Powerball jackpot has seen some significant wins in recent history. On Saturday, April 6, a ticket won a staggering $1.3 billion, with a cash option of $608.9 million. This was the fourth highest Powerball jackpot and the eighth-highest lottery jackpot of all time. Just a month later, on May 6, a ticket in Florida matched all five numbers and the Powerball, winning a $215 million jackpot, which then reset to $20 million.
Current Jackpot Status
The current Powerball jackpot has rolled over seven times, now sitting at $120 million with a cash option of $56.1 million. This makes the upcoming drawing highly anticipated, as players across the country hope to become the next multimillionaire.
Previous Winning Numbers
The winning numbers for the previous drawing on Wednesday, May 22, were 5, 16, 18, 26, and 67, with the Powerball number being 4. The Power Play multiplier was also set at 3x. Despite no one winning the grand prize, one ticket in California matched five numbers, earning a $1 million prize.
Ticket Information and Odds
Powerball tickets start at $2 each, with the option to add the Power Play feature for an additional $1. This feature multiplies non-jackpot winnings by up to 10 times, depending on the multiplier drawn. The odds of matching all six numbers to win the jackpot are approximately one in 292.2 million. However, there are multiple ways to win smaller prizes, making the game appealing to many players.
Claiming Prizes in Florida
In Florida, prizes must be claimed within six months (180 days) from the date of the drawing. For single-payment cash options, winners have up to the first sixty days after the applicable draw date to claim it. Scratch-off tickets and Fast Play game prizes must be claimed within sixty days of the official end-of-game date; otherwise, they expire.
Anonymity Rules for Winners in Florida
Florida law does not allow lottery winners to remain anonymous. The winner’s name, city of residence, game won, date won, and amount won are public records available upon request. However, names of winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for ninety days unless waived by the winner.
Upcoming Drawings and Additional Information
The next Powerball drawing will be held at 11 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 27. Players can purchase tickets until the cutoff time, which varies by state. For example, in Delaware, tickets can be purchased until 9:45 p.m., while in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the cutoff time is 9:59 p.m.
Mega Millions Jackpot Soars to $489 Million
In addition to the Powerball, the Mega Millions jackpot has also reached impressive heights. The next drawing is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28, with an estimated jackpot of $489 million. The winning numbers for the previous drawing on Friday, May 24, were 46, 54, 56, 67, and 70, with the Mega Ball number being 16. The Megaplier was set at 3x.
Recent Mega Millions Wins
No one matched all six numbers in the last Mega Millions drawing, causing the jackpot to increase. However, a ticket in California matched the first five numbers, winning $1 million. Another ticket in Texas matched the first five numbers plus the Megaplier, also winning a significant prize.
How to Play Mega Millions
To play Mega Millions, players must select five numbers between 1 and 70 and one Mega Ball number between 1 and 25. Each ticket costs $2 per play, with the option to add the Megaplier for an additional $1. The Megaplier can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 5 times, depending on the multiplier drawn.
Drawing Schedule and Times
Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time. In Arizona, the drawings take place at 8 p.m. local time. The ticket purchase cutoff time in Arizona varies depending on the time of year. From the first Sunday in November through the second Saturday in March, tickets can be purchased until 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on draw day. From the second Sunday in March through the first Saturday in November, the cutoff time is 6:59 p.m.
Where to Buy Tickets
Tickets for both Powerball and Mega Millions can be purchased at any lottery retailer. Players can also use the Lottery Places app to locate the nearest sales points. In some states, tickets can be purchased online. For example, Pennsylvania residents can buy tickets online at www.pailottery.com, and New Jersey residents can buy tickets at njlotto.
Odds of Winning
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are approximately 1 in 302.6 million. However, there are multiple ways to win smaller prizes, making the game appealing to many players. The odds of winning the lowest prize, $2 for matching the Mega Ball, are approximately 1 in 37.
Largest Lottery Jackpots
The largest lottery jackpot ever won in the United States was a $2 billion Powerball prize won by a single ticket holder in California on November 7, 2022. The fifth-largest Mega Millions jackpot was won on August 8, 2023, with a prize of $1.58 billion.
Conclusion
With both the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots reaching impressive amounts, the upcoming drawings are highly anticipated. Players across the country are eagerly purchasing tickets, hoping to become the next big winner. Whether you play Powerball, Mega Millions, or both, the excitement of the lottery continues to captivate millions of people. Be sure to purchase your tickets before the cutoff times and tune in to the drawings to see if you are the next lucky winner.
