Drawing For Fifth Largest Powerball Jackpot Set For Saturday

The Powerball jackpot has surged to an estimated $1.5 billion for the next drawing on Saturday, Dec. 20.

The cash value for the upcoming drawing is estimated at $686.5 million.

According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, the jackpot is the fifth-largest prize in the game’s history and the seventh-largest in U.S. lottery history.

While no one hit the grand prize in the Wednesday, Dec. 17 drawing, the Pennsylvania Lottery announced that two big winning tickets were sold in the state, totaling $1.2 million in prizes.

One ticket worth $1 million was sold at Midway Beverage in Wyoming, Luzerne County. That ticket matched all five white balls drawn: 25-33-53-62-66. The retailer will receive a $5,000 bonus for the sale.

A second ticket worth $200,000 was sold at the Walmart in Chippewa Township, Beaver County. The ticket matched four of the five white balls and the red Powerball, 17. The prize was quadrupled from $50,000 to $200,000 because the player purchased the $1 Power Play option; the multiplier for the drawing was four. The Walmart retailer earns a $500 bonus.

The current jackpot run has generated nearly $100 million in sales within Pennsylvania.

According to lottery officials, the profits are used to fund programs that benefit the state’s older residents.

In addition to the two major winners, more than 182,200 other Pennsylvania Lottery tickets won prizes in the Wednesday drawing. This includes more than 37,800 tickets with Power Play and more than 19,300 with Double Play.

Lottery officials advise players to check every ticket and remind winners that they have one year from the drawing date to claim their prizes.

Tickets purchased at retail locations should be signed on the back immediately.

For those who play online, winnings are automatically deposited into player accounts once claims are processed.

Players can purchase tickets for the Saturday drawing at any lottery retailer or through the Pennsylvania Lottery website.