Those odds mean there are 292.2 million possible number combinations. The game’s odds remain 1 in 292.2 million regardless of how big the jackpot is and the number of people buying tickets. That’s why the cash prize - which most winners take - would be $643.7 million.ĭO POWERBALL ODDS CHANGE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS? However, even though the current jackpot is advertised as $1.4 billion, the lottery has less than half that amount available for the top prize. The jackpot is based on revenue from ticket sales, so the more people who play the game, the faster the top prize grows. “It’s exciting.” HOW IS THE JACKPOT DETERMINED? “I don’t usually do this on a regular basis, but like I said, when it gets to be, what is it? I don’t even know what, over 1 billion dollars,” Groseclose said. Gale Groseclose, who was buying Powerball tickets in Pineville, North Carolina, said a $1 million prize would be plenty for her but that the Wednesday’s $1.2 billion jackpot certainly caught her attention. A $1.2 billion Powerball jackpot will again be up for grabs Wednesday night after an 11-week stretch without a big winner, but no matter how large the prize grows the odds stay the same - and they’re terrible. Powerball lottery tickets are shown, Wednesday, Oct.
