Powerball Numbers Result in Modest Winners in PA Lottery

The lottery is the ultimate get-rick-quick scheme, despite the very select few number of people who actually get rich off of it. Right now, the most profitable way to win the lottery is to either play Powerball, or the Mega Millions game. Powerball's pot continues to increase with every new reading of its numbers. Despite a couple of people winning relatively big with their numbers in last night's Powerball, the pot is now up to $175 million for one lucky lottery player to take.

In Powerball, if a lottery player gets all six numbers, including the all important Powerball, they win over $100 million instantly. However, if a Powerball drawing does not have anyone who hits all six numbers, the pot increases. But a player can still win big by getting five out of six numbers.

When the Powerball numbers were read last night, the winning numbers were 17, 32, 42, 49 and 56, with a Powerball of 11. Two unidentified players in Pennsylvania came close to winning it all, but were just one Powerball short.

In the PA lottery, two players in Pennsylvania won $200,000 by hitting the first five numbers. Pennsylvania was the only lottery to have multiple winners last night. All told, there were eight $200,000 winning tickets, with a winner each in Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kentucky.

Before the reading, the pot was at over $150 million dollars for a winner who got all six numbers. However, for the next drawing of Powerball numbers, the pot is now up to $173 million.

Pennsylvania lottery players disappointed by losing the chance for $150 million can try for a bigger prize on Saturday's Powerball. Or they can go to New Jersey and try for $171 million, which is the prize for the latest Mega Millions drawing on Friday night.

Mega Millions and Powerball have been neck and neck for the richest grand prize. If a player draws the correct numbers for five white balls drawn, and the right number for the Gold Mega Ball, Mega Millions will give out the estimated prize money and Powerball will remain in the lead. If not, Mega Million will have the temporary lead again.

But Powerball gives more people the chance to win in more states, as the game is played in 30 states overall. Mega Millions is limited to ten states, with New Jersey the leading one.

Those players in ten states have their slim chance for big winnings tomorrow, while Powerball players have a couple additional days to think of a new strategy.

Sources

Philadelphia Inquirer- "Powerball rolls over again" www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20090226_Powerball_rolls_over_again.html

6abc.com- "Powerball passes $170 million" abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story

MD Lottery- "How to Play - Mega Millions" www.mdlottery.com/h2p_megamillions.html