Powerball hits 700 million

Powerball's jackpot has risen to an estimated 700 million after Wednesday's drawing produced no winner.

Powerball jackpot reaches 700 million after no winner in Wednesday drawing

Powerball's jackpot rose to an estimated 700 million after Wednesday night's drawing produced no winner. The new total surpasses the previous 643 million prize and ranks among the largest Powerball jackpots in history. The last jackpot of 2025 was already the year's biggest, and the next drawing is set for Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern time. Players can choose between the annuity payable over 30 years or a one-time cash option of about 316.3 million. The odds of winning the top prize remain about 1 in 292 million, and sales are reported to be roughly 40 percent higher than a year ago.

Powerball is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association, and the largest lottery prize in U.S. history was 2.04 billion dollars, won by a single ticket in Altadena, California, on November 7, 2022.

Rising jackpots are as much about marketing as math. Bigger prizes grab headlines, draw more tickets, and push the lottery into weekend conversations. But the odds do not change, reminding players that the dream often outpaces reality.

If sales stay strong, lotteries gain revenue while critics warn about gambling risk and public perception. The balance between opportunity and responsibility becomes a test for operators as weekend chatter turns into bigger bets.

Highlights

The next drawing will show whether the dream still carries momentum.