Powerball jumps to $425 million

ATLANTA — Brisk sales have pushed the Powerball jackpot to $425 million, up from $400 million, for Wednesday’s drawing, Georgia Lottery officials announced today.

The $425 million jackpot is the third largest jackpot in the game’s history.

Saturday's Powerball drawing delivered hefty prizes to players across Georgia, including two $1 million prizes.

The lucky tickets worth $1 million were purchased in Douglasville and Milton. Those tickets matched the first five winning numbers from the Aug. 3 drawing. One Georgia Lottery player also won a $10,000 prize. The winning ticket was purchased in Marietta.

Winning numbers from the Aug. 3 Powerball drawing were: 21-24-36-42-45 and the Powerball was 15.

Powerball has grown since June 26 and has rolled 12 times.

Powerball offers two jackpot payment options: the $425 million annuity prize paid over 29 years in 30 graduated payments; or the cash option, which is approximately $244 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.

Watch Wednesday's live drawing right before the Channel 2 Action News Nightbeat at 11.

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: Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Estimated Jackpot Amount: $425 million

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

Cash Option Amount: Approximately $244 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: 12

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