Powerball Now at $800 Million

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any higher, the Powerball jackpot has reached a new level never before seen.

According to the Kansas Lottery, as of Friday morning the jackpot was estimated at $800 million. This is the largest jackpot in Powerball history, and also the largest jackpot of any lottery game in U.S. history.

Although no ticket purchased in Kansas won the jackpot Wednesday, there were 54,469 winning tickets sold in Kansas. The holders of those tickets won more than $278,330.

The odds of winning the jackpot are slim, about one in 292 million. One statistical expert says that’s like flipping a quarter and getting heads 28 times in a row.

An assistant professor of mathematics at Southern Methodist University says let the computer pick rather than choosing the numbers yourself. That’s because when people use birthdates or other favorite figures, they generally choose numbers 31 or below. That ignores the fact that there are 69 numbered balls.

Powerball is played in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. In Kansas, Powerball tickets are sold everywhere Kansas Lottery tickets are sold.