Powerball jackpot rises to $1.4 billion

Could you game the system and guarantee yourself a $1.4 billion Powerball jackpot?

The next Powerball drawing is Wednesday.

While the Powerball jackpot continues to grow, a lucky Broome County Lottery player won $50,000 on a ticket sold at Friendly Food Mart at 1308 East Main St.in Endicott over the weekend. The odds of winning the jackpot in Powerball are 1:292,201,338 while the odds of winning any prize are 1:24.9.

Less than 5 percent of the possible number combinations were purchased nationwide for the first eight drawings as the grand prize rose from $40 million to $110 million, according to figures provided by Massachusetts State Lottery spokesman Christian Teja.

“I bought four yesterday, and I usually never buy any”, said Smith, manager of Bucky’s gas station and convenience store in Omaha, Nebraska.

The Powerball lottery is available in 44 states, District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Players can add an extra dollar to get the Power Play option, which multiplies any non-jackpot prize won on their ticket.

Wednesday, January 6, drawing, the jackpot was at $524 million-a measly sum, by comparison.

Michael Pfaff of Hanover wasn’t holding out much hope Monday for picking the winning numbers, but he still came into Turkey Hill to get his tickets.

Powerball lottery tickets are seen at Bluebird Liquor in Hawthorne, Los Angeles, California, United …

“Someone has to win”, he said. At $2 a ticket, the strategy would cost about $584 million, and when taxes are subtracted, you’d end up losing money.

Florida law requires a lottery victor to give his or her name, city of residence, game won, date won and the amount they won, according to the Florida Lottery website.

Dominguez said he plans to use his winning to help his family, pay bills and help both he and his wife complete their college degrees.

Wednesday’s Classic Lotto jackpot has increased to $1.5 million after no one picked Monday’s winning numbers of 15, 19, 23, 26, 30 and 37.

“Players are excited about the jackpot”, said North Carolina Educational Lottery spokesperson Robert Denton.