Powerball Does Not Go Out on Christmas, Monday’s Drawing Worth $416 Million

Posted on: December 26, 2021, 11:05h. 

Last updated on: December 26, 2021, 06:09h.

Steve Bittenbender Read More
Expertise: Legislation, Sports Betting, Horse Racing.

Santa Claus did not make a special trip late Saturday night to give someone a $400 Powerball jackpot. So, that means Monday’s grand prize in the multi-state lottery is worth at least $416 million.

Powerball
Saturday’s Powerball drawing did not lead to a grand prize winner getting a nice Christmas jackpot. Monday’s drawing is currently worth an estimated $416 million, or almost $300 million for someone taking the cash option. (Image: Powerball)

The cash value for Monday’s drawing will be at least $299.5 million.

The winning numbers for Saturday were 27, 29, 45, 55, and 58, with 2 as the Powerball.

It’s the third time this year, the Powerball jackpot has surpassed $400 million. Saturday’s drawing was the 35th since the big prize was last claimed. On Oct. 4, the winning numbers matched a ticket purchased in California for a $699.9 million jackpot – the fifth-highest ever in the game’s history.

On Jan. 20, an undisclosed winner from Maryland won $731.1 million.

Powerball tickets cost $2. Lotteries in 45 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands sell tickets. The Florida Lottery’s broadcast studio hosts the draws every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET.

Deadlines to purchase tickets for drawings vary by lottery. Check with your local participating lottery for more details.

To win, players must pick five numbers between 1 and 69 from one lot, and a Powerball number from 1 to 26 in a second lot. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Smaller prizes start at $4 for matching the Powerball, and go up to $1 million for matching the first five numbers. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.9.

Powerball Sales Should Be Strong on Holiday

Sales figures from Saturday’s drawing were not available as of Sunday morning. However, LottoReport.com reported that Wednesday’s drawing for a $378 million jackpot generated $37.3 million in sales and $4 million in PowerPlay tickets.

PowerPlay is a multiplier for holders of tickets winning smaller prizes. While the multiplier can go to 10-times the smaller prizes, the $1 million prize can only be doubled.

The last time a drawing took place on Christmas was in 2019. That drawing, for a $183 million jackpot, generated $34.6 million in sales and $3.2 million in PowerPlays.

It would not be surprising to see Saturday’s sales approach $50 million, even if a number of retail lottery outlets were closed because of the holiday. Most convenience stores and some liquor and drug stores remained open for Christmas.

In addition, some people like to give lottery tickets away as holiday gifts. While that’s typically a scratch-off ticket, a huge jackpot might have enticed some to give Powerball tickets instead this year.

Saturdays are Powerball’s strongest sales days. The past two weeks ticket sales have surpassed $40 million as the jackpot grew to more than $300 million.

New Double Play Option Available Through 13 Lotteries

In August, the Multi-State Lottery Association, which operates Powerball, began drawings on Mondays in an effort to produce larger and faster-growing jackpots.

At the same time, Powerball also started a new “Double Play” game. In select states, players can spend an extra $1 per ticket to have their numbers eligible for a second drawing that same night.

Prizes vary somewhat. Those who match all five numbers and the Powerball get $10 million instead of the jackpot. However, those who get just the Powerball on the second drawing win $7 instead of $4.

State lotteries selling Double Play are Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington.