Community Corner
Powerball Lottery Increases to $500 Million Jackpot
Maryland Lottery officials announced the increase Tuesday morning for the drawing.
The jackpot for Wednesday night's Powerball drawing was already the largest in the game's history at $425 million but lottery officials announced that the prize pool had increased on Tuesday morning.
Wednesday's drawing will now be for a $500 million jackpot with a $327 million cash option, according to an email from Maryland Lottery spokeswoman Erica Palmisano. The news comes after 15 straight Powerball drawings without a winner.
Lottery officials said there have been two Powerball winners in our state since Maryland started to participate in January 2010:
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- $128 million, December 2011, Elkton, Cecil County (anonymous Pennsylvania couple)
- $108.8 million, September 2011, Abingdon, Harford County (anonymous couple)
The last huge jackpot and previous record-holder—a $365 million prize—was claimed in Nebraska back in 2006.
The next drawing will take place on Wednesday at 11:22 p.m. on WBAL-TV, Channel 11 and will be rebroadcast on MPT. Powerball is a lottery game played in 42 states including Maryland.
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What would you do with the winnings? Tell us in the comments.
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