Powerball Results, Numbers for 12/19/20: Did Anyone Win the $304 Million?
The winning numbers in Saturday night's drawing of the Powerball were 27, 32, 34, 43 and 52. The Powerball was 13 and the Power Play was X2.
But no one has claimed the $304 million jackpot for the December 19 draw, according to the Powerball website. As a result, the prize money will roll over to the next drawing on December 24. The estimated jackpot then will be $321 million (with a cash value of $247.1 million).
Although no-one won the jackpot in Saturday's draw, there were some big winners.
Sixteen players matched four white balls and the Powerball correctly to win $50,000 prizes. Another six players doubled their prize money to $100,000 with a Power Play purchase.
The Powerball jackpot has not been won in four months, according to the Powerball website.
The last time a player scooped the jackpot was in the September 16 draw, resetting the Powerball jackpot to $20 million. The winning ticket, worth $94 million, was sold at Minogue's Beverage located at 2421 Route 9 in Ballston Spa.
Before that, the jackpot was won on August 12, when one lucky player in Florida matched all five white balls and the Powerball to scoop a massive $169 million payout.
How do you play Powerball?
Powerball is a hugely popular multi-state lottery that is available to play in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings usually take place twice a week on a Wednesday and Saturday night, at 10:59 p.m. ET. Each draw is broadcast live from the lottery studio in Tallahassee, Florida.
Each ticket costs $2 per play, with players selecting five numbers from 1 to 69, in addition to one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. In certain circumstances, players can also multiply non-jackpot prizes by using the Power Play option for an additional $1.
Why is the Powerball so low?
Powerball slashed its minimum payout in half from $40 million to $20 million with minimum roll increased of $2 million between drawings back in March because of the coronavirus pandemic leading to reduced sales, according to lottery officials.
Powerball Product Group Chairman and Maine Lottery Director Gregory Mineo said in a statement at the time: "Powerball players in many U.S. lottery jurisdictions are under shelter-in-place orders or recommendations, which have affected normal consumer behaviors.
Powerball's official website claims that players have a 1 in 24.9 chance of winning any prize regardless of the number of participants. But the chances of winning the grand prize jackpot are astronomically higher at 1 in 292,201,338, according to the official website.
Winners can choose to either select their prize as an annuity, or for significantly less, a lump-sum payment. The annuity option sees the winner receive 30 annual payments over the space of 29 years, with each payment increasing by five percent until the 30th and final payment.
Your chances of hitting the grand prize jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338, regardless of the jackpot size, according to Powerball's website. If you win a jackpot, call lottery officials at 1-800-222-0996.
