Powerball Jackpot Hits $440M As Wednesday Drawing Looms

What would you do with a couple of million dollars?

Oops, we mean a couple of hundred million dollars.

Lottery players across the country are hoping luck is on their side this week as the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots reach grand heights. The Mega Millions jackpot reached $361 million ahead of Tuesday night’s drawing, and Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot reached a staggering $440 million, the ninth-largest Powerball jackpot in the game’s history.

You have a 1 in 292,201,338 shot at the Powerball, according to the Hoosier Lottery.

Mega Millions jackpot odds are 1 in 302,575,350, according to the game’s official rules. The Mega Millions drawing Tuesday night occurred after IndyStar’s deadline.

But somebody wins. Sometimes some Hoosier wins.

Hoosiers have won the Powerball jackpot 39 times in the game’s history, more than any other Powerball-playing state, according to Dennis Rosebrough, public relations director for the Hoosier Lottery.

The last Hoosier jackpot winner was in early 2017, when an anonymous player in Lafayette won $435 million.

“Hoosiers seem to like to play Powerball,” he said.

Mega Millions was modified in October 2017 with new rules and a ticket price increase, more than doubling starting jackpots.

Indiana residents have had some luck with Mega Millions, too, Rosebrough said. A Hoosier won $536 million in July 2016.

That both the Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots are so large is rare, Rosebrough said. Typically, if one hits, the other continues to grow.

“The games were designed this way,” he said. “Because we know that our players are driven — they’re motivated by big jackpots.”

Ultimately, Hoosiers are the beneficiaries of large jackpots and high player participation, Rosebrough said.

In fiscal year 2016, Hoosier Lottery provided $281 million in revenue to the state, which the legislature then doles out, Rosebrough said. That year $30 million went to the police and fire pension fund, $30 million to teacher retirement funds and the rest was used to offset the state’s automobile excise taxes.

What happens if no one wins? The jackpot will continue to grow, Rosebrough said, and players will have another chance to win. The next Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for around 11 p.m. Friday, and the next Powerball drawing is scheduled for the same time Saturday.

Those who think they may have a winning ticket — either for the jackpot or a smaller prize — are encouraged to check their numbers at hoosierlottery.com or call the customer service number listed on their ticket for more information.

Mega Millions

Jackpot: $361 million 

Drawing time: 11 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2

Jackpot odds: 1 in 302,575,350

Next drawing: 11 p.m. Friday

Powerball

Jackpot: $440 million 

Drawing time: 11 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3

Jackpot odds: 1 in 292,201,338

Next drawing: 11 p.m. Saturday

Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.