POWERBALL JACKPOT CLIMBS TO RECORD HIGH

8/18/2009

The jackpot in America’s favorite lottery game has reached a quarter of a billion dollars. The Powerball jackpot for tomorrow’s drawing has been raised to $250 million with a cash option of $124,800,000.

West Virginia Lottery Director John Musgrave said, “Folks, we’re talking about a quarter of a billion dollars. This is the ninth largest Powerball jackpot of all time… and I would like to see it won in West Virginia.”

According to Musgrave, this is the first time the Powerball jackpot has climbed this high since March 15, 2008, when eight co-workers from the Monongalia Tax Office won a $276 million jackpot.

“West Virginia has been lucky to have had several very large Powerball jackpot winners and we are hopeful that the next jackpot will be hit in the Mountain State,” said Musgrave. In addition, Musgrave said Powerball’s Power Play option gives players even more chances to win. “By adding the Power Play option for an extra $1 and matching all five white balls, players have a chance to win $1 million cash. You don’t have to hit the jackpot to win big!”

Lotteries around the country sold more than $2.56 billion in Powerball tickets in fiscal year 2008, translating into more than $743 million in worthwhile state projects. Powerball is now played in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information on Powerball, please visit www.powerball.com. For more information on the West Virginia Lottery, please visit www.wvlottery.com.