Georgia

Could today be the day? Tonight’s Powerball jackpot at $685 million

METRO ATLANTA — Unless you bought a ticket out in California, your dream to become a millionaire might have to be put on pause.

Nobody matched the numbers in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing according to the Georgia Lottery corporation. That means the jackpot grew to $685 million for Monday night’s drawing, which someone in California won.

The cash value of the jackpot is $485.5 million.

Monday night’s winning numbers were 66, 12, 22, 54 and 69 with a Powerball number of 15.

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The jackpot is not the largest in Powerball history, but it is in the top 10. With three drawings now each week, the chance of it climbing up that list continues. This jackpot has been growing for almost four months.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Elizabeth Rawlins caught up with some players at a Cobb County gas station.

“You know, what do I have to lose,” said player Mark Butler.

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There is fierce competition as Georgia is among 45 states betting on a winning ticket.

The last time a winning ticket was sold in Georgia was nearly five years ago. The winning ticket was sold Thanksgiving 2016 at a gas station in Cobb County, netting the winner a cool $82 million.

The chance of winning is slim, but some believe they may have better odds at a winning store.

“It’s been seen in some places where tickets do hit consecutively,” said player Rodney Smith.

This year’s Powerball jackpot comes on the heels of a pandemic, nearly two years of financial hardship and economic uncertainty for so many Americans.

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“I would think anybody in the past year that can scrounge up two bucks. Anybody with two bucks would play to get past this,” said Butler.

Butler is truly an optimistic lottery player.

“I’m feeling lucky. This may be the winning ticket,” said Butler. Butler did not have the winning ticket.

Powerball drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. You can watch them all on Channel 2.

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