Powerball jackpot hits $500 million as ticket sales soar

Without a victor, the next jackpot will be an estimated $675 million.

Though no one hit the jackpot for Saturday’s drawing, more than 46,000 players in IN won prizes.

The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were: 02-11-47-62-63, Powerball: 17, Power Play: 3.

Players had a chance at an estimated $500 million dollar Powerball jackpot making it the biggest lottery prize in almost a year.

Multi-State Lottery Association officials Wednesday increased the expected prize from $450 million because of fast sales for the largest lottery jackpot in almost a year.

Since Powerball tickets went on sale here in 2006, four North Carolina players have beaten the odds to win jackpots of $74.5 million to $188 million. It’s been growing since the last Powerball jackpot victor on November 4 and will keep climbing if no one wins the big prize on Wednesday.

The jackpot ranks as the sixth largest offered in North America. But as lottery officials often note, people have no chance of winning if they don’t buy a ticket.

Powerball is sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

A Mega Millions jackpot reached $656 million in March 2012. The cash payout option amounts to more than $300 million before taxes. At least 12 tickets won $1 million by matching the five main numbers, but not the Powerball.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.