Where can you buy a Powerball ticket and how can you check the winning numbers online? The Powerball jackpot now stands at $535 million and ticket sales are brisk at lottery retailers across the U.S.
Don't have a Powerball ticket yet? Here's everything you need to know ahead of the August 19 drawing, including where to buy a ticket, cut-off times for ticket sales, and how to get the results of Saturday nights drawing online.
Saturday's jackpot is massive but it doesn't rank as the biggest jackpot in the history of the game. According to NBC News, that honor goes to the $1.586 billion jackpot that created a lottery frenzy last year.
Three lucky lottery players from Tennessee, California, and Florida split the jackpot when they all matched the winning numbers drawn on January 13, 2016.
Where can you buy a Powerball ticket?
Tickets are currently sold in 44 states, Puerto Rico, D.C., and the US Virgin Islands. Many convenience stores and supermarkets sell tickets. Some retailers have kiosks placed inside their stores that offer not only Powerball tickets but instant tickets as well.
Because the Powerball lottery game is not available in every state, you may have to travel across state lines to purchase a $2 ticket. Is it worth traveling hundreds of miles to buy a ticket? Probably not, considering the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338.
But you never know — it could be your lucky day.
What time are the winning Powerball numbers drawn on Saturday?
If you plan to buy a ticket, most retailers stop selling tickets approximately one hour before the drawing. If you purchase a ticket after the cutoff time, it will be valid for the next drawing scheduled for Wednesday, August 23.
Powerball drawings take place every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. ET. Although the winning numbers will be revealed at that time, it may be several hours before lottery officials determine if a winning ticket was sold.
Watch the Powerball drawing online
Many local TV networks broadcast the drawing right before the 11 p.m.
newscast. Lottery players can also watch the drawing live on WRAL's website.
If you want to watch the August 19 drawing online (or check the results after the drawing), there are a number of lottery apps available for iPhone and Android smartphones. The LotteryHub app offers a live video drawing of both Powerball and Mega Millions as well as the results from recent drawings.
