The largest jackpot in the world is sending players to the stores in record numbers trying to win “the big one.”
The Powerball jackpot for Wednesday is now estimated at $1.5 billion, with a cash option of $930 million, according to Kansas Lottery officials.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are not good – 1 in 292 million, according to the Powerball website.
Playing “what if” – if the jackpot was hit by a single ticket sold in Kansas, and the winner chose the cash option, he or she would get a huge payout, even after taxes. After paying 25 percent in federal tax ($232.5 million) and 5 percent in state tax ($46.5 million), a Kansas winner would receive a payment of $651 million.
The jackpot has been rolling since being hit Nov. 4, 2015, in Tennessee for $144 million. Wednesday will be the 20th drawing in this draw cycle. Sales in Kansas for last Saturday’s Powerball drawing were $6,767,504, setting a Kansas record for most sales in a single drawing. The state’s 1,760 lottery retailers earned nearly $500,000 in Powerball selling commissions last week.
A Wamego, Kan., woman on Monday claimed the $50,000 prize she won by matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball in Saturday’s drawing. The winning ticket was sold by Red Raider Express, located at 203 Spruce in Wamego. Kan.
Lottery players picked up a total of $728,132 in Powerball prizes Saturday. To see a list of all Powerball prizes won in Kansas Saturday, click on “Prizes Won in Kansas.” (http://www.kslottery.com/NumbersLookup/PWBLPrizesPaid.aspx?DrawDt=20160109)
Kansas Lottery players are back in the stores this week in their quest to win the $1.5 billion record jackpot or another cash prize. As of 10:45 a.m. today, Kansas Lottery players had already purchased nearly $2.4 million in Powerball tickets, with the biggest selling day expected Wednesday.
As the next Powerball drawing approaches, the Kansas Lottery is again encouraging all players to please play responsibly and not spend beyond their means. Remember – it only takes one ticket to win.
You must be 18 to purchase or claim a lottery ticket in Kansas.