(Reuters) – An already record-breaking U.S. Powerball jackpot grew to a whopping $1.9 billion one after no one secured a winning ticket in Saturday night’s drawing, according to lottery officials.
The estimated $1.6 billion that was up for grabs on Saturday had been the largest lotto prize ever offered, Powerball said.
To win the big prize, a player must guess all six lucky numbers, including the final “Powerball.” The winning numbers drawn on Nov. 5 were 28,45,53,56,69 and the Powerball 20.
The next chance for ticket buyers to clinch the jackpot will be Monday’s draw, although they would have to overcome the steep odds of 1 in 292.2 million to secure a win.
No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 3, when a lucky ticket holder from Pennsylvania took home over $200 million, according to Powerball.
The prize money has since mushroomed, generating lots of business at gas stations and newsstands around the United States, where Americans buy Powerball tickets for $2 a pop.
Winners may decide to receive their money as an annuity, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump sum cash payment. Both types of winnings are subject to federal and local taxes.
(Reporting by Maria Caspani, Editing by Deepa Babington)
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