The jackpot has surged to a staggering $1.7 billion following the 46th consecutive drawing without a grand prize winner.
Monday night’s drawing produced the numbers 3, 18, 36, 41, 54, with a Powerball of 7.
There have now been 46 successive drawings without a jackpot winner since September 6.
The next drawing is scheduled for Wednesday, Christmas Eve, with the jackpot anticipated to be the fourth-largest in the history of U.S. lotteries.
Powerball’s odds of 1 in 292.2 million are structured to create massive jackpots, which increase as they roll over. Officials point out that the chances of winning the game’s numerous smaller prizes are significantly higher. There are .
A winner who selects the annuity option would receive the estimated $1.6 billion jackpot in 30 payments distributed over 29 years. The vast majority of winners prefer the cash alternative, which was valued at an estimated $735.3 million for Monday’s drawing.
Powerball tickets are sold for $2 in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Associated Press videojournalist Emilie Megnien in Atlanta contributed to this report.
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Olivia Diaz is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
