America keeps waiting … and waiting … and waiting.
The drawing for the record-setting $1.9 billion Powerball has been delayed due to a “technical problem,” lottery host Laura Johnson at 11 p.m. EST on Monday told television viewers, who were anxiously waiting to see if they were about to become a billionaire.
“Because of a technical problem tonight, we are unable to bring you the Powerball drawing at this time. As soon as we are unable to resolve the issue and conduct the drawing, it will be available on Powerball.com,” Johnson said.
In a statement immediately after, lottery officials said the delay was caused by “a participating lottery needing extra time to complete the required security protocols.”
Around 2:20 a.m., Anna Domoto of the Multi-State Lottery Association put out a statement further explaining the problem:
“The Powerball drawing scheduled for Monday, Nov. 7 remains delayed. Currently, one participating lottery is still processing its sales and play data. Powerball requires all 48 participating lotteries to submit their sales and play data prior to the winning numbers being selected. Once Powerball receives the outstanding submission, the drawing can proceed.
“Powerball has stringent security requirements to protect the integrity of the game and remains committed to holding a drawing that gives all players a fair chance to win. Due to the length of the draw delay, it is likely that we will not know the official results of the Powerball drawing until Tuesday morning. Players should hold onto their tickets.”
The results will be available here once the drawing is held.
The lottery jackpot was an estimated at a record $1.9 billion with a cash option of $929.1 million, according to the Powerball website. The final jackpot total will be based on actual sales.
It was the world’s largest jackpot ever, eclipsing the $1.586 billion that was won playing Powerball in January of 2016 (see charts below).
The jackpot was last won on Aug. 3 night when a lottery player in Pennsylvania took home $206.9 million.
Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot is at $154 million with a cash option of $74.7 million for Tuesday’s drawing, according to the Mega Millions website.
Until recently, lottery winners in New Jersey were required to be identified, but now winners will be able to stay anonymous under a new law that was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
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When is the next Powerball drawing?
Powerball drawings are held three times a week – Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Monday drawings were added in 2021.
How late can I buy Powerball tickets?
The deadline for purchasing Powerball ticket varies by state so don’t wait until the last minute. The deadline in New Jersey is 9:59 p.m. on the day of the drawing, while New York’s deadline is 10 p.m.
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How do I play Powerball?
The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Power Play for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot and Match 5). There is also a 10x Power Play possibility when the jackpot is less than $150 million.
Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a quick pick ticket with random numbers for you.
Prizes vary from $4 for the matching the Powerball to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California) to the jackpot for matching all six balls. You can check all the prize payouts on the Powerball website here.
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Where can I buy Powerball tickets?
You can play the game in 45 states plus the Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Many grocery stores, gas stations and convenience stores sell lottery tickets. Some states allow Powerball tickets to be purchased online, but beware of scam websites. Check with your state lottery for more details about online sales before purchasing tickets online.
You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident a particular state where you purchase your ticket.
Here is where you can buy tickets from lottery retailers in New Jersey: Click here.
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How can I watch Powerball drawing?
The Powerball drawing is broadcast live on the lottery website at 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can watch the drawing by clicking here.
The drawing may be broadcast on a local television station in your market as well.
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What are my odds of winning?
Playing the Powerball can be exciting, but just don’t go spending those millions before you win.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 292,201,338-to-1.
The odds to match all five white balls are 11,688,053-to-1.
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Lump sum or annuity?
The major lotteries in the United States offer two jackpot payout options: annuity and cash.
The annuity option is paid out over time. There is an immediate payment and then 29 annual payments after that, increasing by 5% each year.
The cash option is significantly lower than the advertised jackpot, but it is paid in a lump sum. You don’t have to wait decades for all the money.
What was biggest Powerball jackpot?
Here are the Top 10 jackpots since the Powerball lottery began in 1992:
- $1.9 billion, Nov. 7, 2022:
- $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
- $768.4 million, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
- $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
- $730 million, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
- $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
- $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
- $632.6 million, Jan. 5, 2022: Two winner in California, Wisconsin
- $590.5 million, May 18, 2013: Won in Florida
- $587.5 million, Nov. 28, 2012: Two winners in Arizona, Missouri
What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?
Here’s a look at the top jackpots were won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:
- $1.9 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022:
- $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
- $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
- $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Illinois
- $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
- $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
- $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
- $730 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
- $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
- $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
- $656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
- $632.6 million, Powerball, Jan. 5, 2022: Two winner in California, Wisconsin
- $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013: Won in Florida
- $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012: Two winner in Arizona, Missouri
- $564.1 million, Powerball, Feb. 11, 2015: Three winners in North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Texas
- $543 million, Mega Millions, July 24, 2018: Won in California
- $536 million, Mega Millions July 8, 20116: Won in Indiana
- $533 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2018: Won in New Jersey
- $522 million, Mega Millions, June 7, 2019: Won in California