The Powerball prize, at $600 million, is now the second-largest jackpot in U.S. history, tempting many Marylanders to buy tickets for the lottery game before the Saturday night drawing.
"We expect there will be brisk sales both [Friday and Saturday]," said Stephen L. Martino, director of the Maryland Lottery.
The only multi-state jackpot in the U.S. that was larger was the Mega Millions jackpot in March 2012, which reached $656 million before it was split by three winning tickets.
One of the winning tickets, sold at a 7-Eleven on Liberty Road in Milford Mill, was cashed in by three Maryland public-school educators. Those winners, who chose to remain anonymous, each chose $35 million lump-sum payments.
The cash option for Saturday's Powerball drawing is $376.9 million. It is the largest Powerball jackpot ever. According to the Maryland Lottery, "this jackpot has 'rolled' 13 times since April."
The Powerball game — five numbers selected from a drum of 59 white balls, plus one number selected from 35 red balls — is played twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday. Before Friday, Powerball's largest jackpot was $587 million. That prize was won in November.
The lack of a winner on Wednesday night left the pot at $475 million, which was bumped to $550 million Thursday afternoon and $600 Friday morning.
There's potential for it to be increased again before the drawing. The Maryland Lottery, like lottery offices in more than two dozen other states, is continuing to report Powerball sales to the Iowa-based organization that oversees the game, Martino said.
The first Powerball drawing was held in 1992, but the game only came to Maryland in 2010. Since then, there have been two Powerball jackpot winners in Maryland.
"We have had a huge line all day," said Ali Rizbi, a sales clerk at a 7-Eleven on North Wolfe Street in East Baltimore, where people were still trickling in after 9 p.m. "That's the biggest rush we ever had."
Excitement around the large Powerball prize is likely to buoy Maryland Lottery revenue, which has been lagging this year, Martino said.
Sales last year were pumped up by the gigantic Mega Millions award and have not been matched so far in 2013, he said. The opening of Maryland Live casino has also had a draining effect on Keno and instant ticket sales, Martino said.
But from Monday through Thursday, the Maryland Lottery's sales numbers were $5 million greater than during the same week last year, he said.
"So much of lottery is an impulse buy," Martino explained, saying that many people who come in for a Powerball ticket are likely to buy tickets for other games.
On Friday night, a Mega Millions drawing was scheduled for a $190 million jackpot. Martino expects that some people pursuing Powerball tickets decided to try their had at that prize too.
Maryland Lottery officials are focused on ensuring retailers have the support they need — like a full supply of official ticket paper — to keep up with the projection-exceeding demand, Martino said.
The Powerball drawing is scheduled for 11:22 p.m. Saturday and can be viewed live on WBAL-TV, Channel 11. Ticket sales end about one hour before the drawing.
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"We expect there will be brisk sales both [Friday and Saturday]," said Stephen L. Martino, director of the Maryland Lottery.
The only multi-state jackpot in the U.S. that was larger was the Mega Millions jackpot in March 2012, which reached $656 million before it was split by three winning tickets.
One of the winning tickets, sold at a 7-Eleven on Liberty Road in Milford Mill, was cashed in by three Maryland public-school educators. Those winners, who chose to remain anonymous, each chose $35 million lump-sum payments.
The cash option for Saturday's Powerball drawing is $376.9 million. It is the largest Powerball jackpot ever. According to the Maryland Lottery, "this jackpot has 'rolled' 13 times since April."
The Powerball game — five numbers selected from a drum of 59 white balls, plus one number selected from 35 red balls — is played twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday. Before Friday, Powerball's largest jackpot was $587 million. That prize was won in November.
The lack of a winner on Wednesday night left the pot at $475 million, which was bumped to $550 million Thursday afternoon and $600 Friday morning.
There's potential for it to be increased again before the drawing. The Maryland Lottery, like lottery offices in more than two dozen other states, is continuing to report Powerball sales to the Iowa-based organization that oversees the game, Martino said.
The first Powerball drawing was held in 1992, but the game only came to Maryland in 2010. Since then, there have been two Powerball jackpot winners in Maryland.
"We have had a huge line all day," said Ali Rizbi, a sales clerk at a 7-Eleven on North Wolfe Street in East Baltimore, where people were still trickling in after 9 p.m. "That's the biggest rush we ever had."
Excitement around the large Powerball prize is likely to buoy Maryland Lottery revenue, which has been lagging this year, Martino said.
Sales last year were pumped up by the gigantic Mega Millions award and have not been matched so far in 2013, he said. The opening of Maryland Live casino has also had a draining effect on Keno and instant ticket sales, Martino said.
But from Monday through Thursday, the Maryland Lottery's sales numbers were $5 million greater than during the same week last year, he said.
"So much of lottery is an impulse buy," Martino explained, saying that many people who come in for a Powerball ticket are likely to buy tickets for other games.
On Friday night, a Mega Millions drawing was scheduled for a $190 million jackpot. Martino expects that some people pursuing Powerball tickets decided to try their had at that prize too.
Maryland Lottery officials are focused on ensuring retailers have the support they need — like a full supply of official ticket paper — to keep up with the projection-exceeding demand, Martino said.
The Powerball drawing is scheduled for 11:22 p.m. Saturday and can be viewed live on WBAL-TV, Channel 11. Ticket sales end about one hour before the drawing.
[email protected]
twitter.com/stevekilar