"A Christmas Eve Powerball drawing could add new meaning to holiday cheer as millions of players hope to cash in on the $1.7 billion prize, which comes after months without a jackpot winner. The United States' 4th-largest jackpot on record comes after 46 consecutive draws without someone claiming to have all six numbers. The last contest with a jackpot winner was on Sept. 6."
"The game's long odds have people decking the halls and doling out $2 and sometimes more for tickets ahead of Wednesday night's live drawing. It's a sign the game is operating as intended. Lottery officials made the odds tougher in 2015 as a mechanism for snowballing jackpots, all the while making it easier to win smaller prizes. The Christmas holiday is not expected to impact the drawing process should there be a winning ticket, a Powerball spokesperson said."
"Powerball is played in 45 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most of those areas require players to be 18 or older, though some states have steeper requirements. In Nebraska, players have to be at least 19 years old, and in Louisiana and Arizona, people can't buy tickets until they are 21. Winning tickets also must be cashed in the states where they were bought."
Millions of players anticipate a Christmas Eve Powerball drawing offering a $1.7 billion jackpot, the United States' fourth-largest. The jackpot follows 46 consecutive draws without a winner, with the last winning drawing on Sept. 6. Ticket purchases have increased despite long odds after 2015 rule changes designed to grow jackpots while improving chances for smaller prizes. The advertised $1.7 billion jackpot has a cash value of $781.3 million. Powerball is available in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with varying age requirements and a rule that winning tickets must be cashed where purchased. The holiday will not affect the drawing process.
Read at www.npr.org
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