Powerball Jackpot Increased to $300 Million

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The Powerball jackpot for the August 3 drawing climbed to $300 million Friday, with a cash value of $172.7 million.

The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) that operates the game on behalf of 45 participating lotteries, including the Louisiana Lottery, made the announcement Friday based on a nationwide surge in sales. Before the increase, the advertised jackpot was $290 million.

The Powerball jackpot was last hit on June 22 and Saturday's drawing is the 12th in the current run, which has produced four $1 million match-5 winners in Louisiana. Roddy Palazzo Jr. of New Orleans claimed a $1 million prize from the July 10 drawing; Bobby Reaux of New Orleans claimed a $1 million prize from the July 6 drawing on behalf of an office pool; and Eric Bankston of Albany claimed a $1 million prize from the June 29 drawing.

The fourth $1 million-winning ticket sold during the current draw run was purchased for the July 20 drawing in Alexandria; that prize has not yet been claimed. Each of the $1 million winners matched all five white-ball numbers but missed the red Powerball number for their respective drawings.

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, which was claimed less than three months ago by a woman in Florida.

In Louisiana, Powerball tickets must be purchased by 9 p.m. 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 by clicking the link below.