Powerball jackpot hits $300 million

ATLANTA — The Powerball jackpot has hit an estimated $300 million to a single annuity winner. Georgia Lottery officials announced today that strong sales raised Saturday's jackpot from $290 million.

With a growing jackpot, the excitement is spreading across Georgia.

The jackpot has grown since June 26 and has rolled 11 times.

Powerball offers two jackpot payment options: the $300 million annuity prize paid over 29 years in 30 graduated payments; or the cash option, which is approximately $172 million.

Powerball tickets are $2 per play. Players can add the Power Play feature for an additional $1 per play to multiply non-jackpot prize winnings.

As with all other Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Powerball will benefit education in the state of Georgia.

Since its first year, the Georgia Lottery Corp. has returned more than $14.6 billion to the state of Georgia for education. All Georgia Lottery profits go to pay for specific educational programs, including Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program. More than 1.6 million students have received HOPE, and more than 1.2 million 4-year-olds have attended the statewide, voluntary prekindergarten program.

POWERBALL FAST FACTS

Draw Date: Saturday, August 3, 2013

Estimated Jackpot Amount: $300 million

Annuity Amount: Jackpot prize paid over 29 years in 30 graduated payments

Cash Option Amount: Approximately $172 million

Cost to Play: $2 per play; an additional $1 per play to add the Power Play multiplier feature

Drawings: Air at 11 p.m. (ET) every Wednesday and Saturday in Georgia

Latest Time to Purchase Tickets: Until 10 p.m. on days of drawings; until 1 a.m. other days

Overall Odds of Winning Any Prize: Approximately 1:32

Odds of Winning Jackpot Prize: Approximately 1:175 million

Number of Jurisdictions: 45 (43 states, District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands)

Date Jackpot Began Rolling: June 26, 2013

Number of Rolls: 11

Last Winning Jackpot Ticket: June 22, 2013 - $131.5 million jackpot (Pennsylvania winner)

#1 Powerball Jackpot: May 18, 2013 - $590.5 million jackpot (Florida winner)

WSBTV