Powerball Jackpot Increased to $425 Million for Aug. 7 Drawing
The Powerball jackpot for the Aug. 7 drawing climbed to $425 million Tuesday, the third largest Powerball jackpot of all time.
The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) that operates the game on behalf of 45 participating lotteries, including the Louisiana Lottery, made the announcement Tuesday based on a nationwide surge in sales. Before the increase, the advertised jackpot was $400 million. The cash value of the Aug. 7 jackpot is now $244.7 million.
The Powerball jackpot was last hit on June 22 and Wednesday's drawing is the 13th in the current run, which has produced four $1 million winners in Louisiana. Each of those winning tickets matched all five white-ball numbers but missed the red Powerball number for their respective drawings.
In Louisiana, Powerball sales for this draw run, which began Sunday, June 23, total more than $14.3 million and are expected to climb ahead of Wednesday's drawing.
The most recent Powerball jackpot won in Louisiana was in May 2013. The Williams Trust of New Orleans split a $50 million jackpot from the May 25 drawing with two other winning tickets sold in Delaware and Florida.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever won is $590.5 million; that prize was claimed earlier this year by a woman in Florida.
In Louisiana, Powerball tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. on the night of the drawing. Powerball drawings are broadcast live from Tallahassee, Fla. on Official Lottery Draw Show TV stations, a list of which can be found on the Lottery's website.