Powerball jackpot: Play to win $435M, live drawing Saturday night on Channel 2

ATLANTA — You might not have played the Powerball jackpot before, but you now have a chance to win an even larger amount of cash.

Thursday night's winning numbers were 5-21-57-66-69 and the Powerball was 13.

The new jackpot is now $435 million and the cash value is set at $273.1 million.

Powerball draws five white balls out of a drum with 69 balls and one red ball out of a drum with 26 red balls, which means the odds of winning some prize money are improved.

Before the drawing, it has been 18 drawings since someone matched all the numbers.

You can watch the next Powerball drawing Saturday right before the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11.

The jackpot was last hit April 1, when someone in Arizona, who opted to remain anonymous, won a $60 million jackpot.

The largest Powerball jackpot ever was $1.586 billion, which was shared between tickets sold in three states in January 2016.

The jackpot is won in full by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball and is either an annualized prize paid out over 29 years or a cash lump sum payment.

If you choose the cash in this case, you'd receive $273.1 million after taxes. If you choose the annuity, then Powerball can invest the cash amount pre-tax, which means more earnings. With this option you'd get an annual payment that is increased by 5 percent each year to keep up with the cost of living.

Each ticket costs $2 and draw sales cut off at least 59 minutes before the final draw, but a state may cut off sales earlier.

A 7-time lottery winner shared tips for winning Powerball:

Forbes spoke to Richard Lustig, who has won seven lottery grand prizes and wrote a book about his trial and error in learning how to do so.

1. Avoid "quick-pick"

The "quick-pick" method works in number sets, which means that every number doesn't have the same amount of luck one would perceive. "Every time you buy a quick pick, you get a different set of numbers; therefore, your odds are always going to be at their worst in that particular game, Lustig told Forbes.

2. Use the entire board

Many people use birthdates and anniversaries when they fill out their cards. While your loved ones bring you priceless joy, using their special days to bring home the jackpot will likely mean that you end up splitting the prize with 20 to 40 people. Instead of just playing numbers 1-31, use all the numbers available. "If you spread the numbers out across the whole track, you’ll either be the only winner or will split it with only one or two people,” Lustig said.

3. Stick with your instincts

Lustig has a specific way to find the numbers with which you feel most comfortable in his book, but ultimately, once you pick the group that you think will work, stick with it. “Remember, a set of numbers wins the grand prize, not individual numbers,” Lustig said. If playing multiple cards, have some variety in the grouping of numbers chosen to maximize your odds.

4. Be consistent

Simply put: If you want to win a particular game, follow past and future drawings to get the hang of it.

5. Don't get carried away

While winning $900 million would ultimately grant you and your loved ones financial security, it's important not to spend money you can't afford to lose (groceries, rent, etc.) on lottery tickets. If you can buy only one ticket or even 10 but not 100, that's OK. "Set a budget of what you’re going to spend. Do not get caught up in what’s called 'lottery fever,'" Lustig said. Spend what you can comfortably afford to spend on lottery tickets and no more.

Cox Media Group