But no one has claimed the $137 million jackpot for the August 1 draw, according to the Powerball website, sos it will now roll over to the next drawing on Thursday August 6.
The estimated jackpot then will be $147 million (with a cash value of $121.2 million).
Although no-one claimed the top prize, there were some big winners from Saturday night’s drawing. Three players, from California, Illinois and Oregon, matched all five white balls correctly to win $1 million, according to the Powerball website.
Five players matched four balls and the Powerball to win $50,000 prizes, while another four tripled their winnings to $150,000 with the Power Play feature.
The last time the Powerball jackpot was won was in the June 10 drawing. the winner, Thomas Cook, split his $22 million prize with his best friend Joseph Feeney.
The pair had shaken hands in 1992, agreeing that if either one won the Powerball jackpot, they would share the prize, according to the Wisconsin Lottery.
The Powerball jackpot was also won in June when a player in West Virginia scooped $136 million in the drawing on June 3. Before that, a player in New Jersey won the $190 million jackpot in the April 8 draw.
The biggest win this year came in January when a Florida woman scooped a massive $396.9 million jackpot. Sheryll Goedert, 61, chose to receive her winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of around $276.6 million.
How do you play Powerball?
Powerball is a hugely popular multi-state lottery that is available to play in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings usually take place twice a week on a Wednesday and Saturday night, at 10:59 p.m. ED. Each draw is broadcast live from the lottery studio in Tallahassee, Florida.
Each ticket costs $2 per play, with players selecting five numbers from 1 to 69, in addition to one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. In certain circumstances, players can also multiply non-jackpot prizes by using the Power Play option for an additional $1.
Why is the Powerball so low?
Powerball slashed its minimum payout in half from $40 million to $20 million with minimum roll increased of $2 million between drawings back in March because of the coronavirus pandemic leading to reduced sales, according to lottery officials.
Powerball Product Group Chairman and Maine Lottery Director Gregory Mineo said in a statement at the time: “Powerball players in many U.S. lottery jurisdictions are under shelter-in-place orders or recommendations, which have affected normal consumer behaviors.
“Just like other enterprises around the world that are making adjustments, we are making proactive changes to continue to offer the world’s premier lottery product.”
