A woman purchases a Powerball lottery ticket at a convenience store in Washington, DC, January 7, 2016. (AFP photo)
New York:
The largest jackpot in US lottery history has climbed again, to a massive $900 million, as Americans dreaming of a life-changing windfall counted down the hours to Saturday's eagerly anticipated draw.
The United States is in the grip of lottery fever, with long queues forming outside lottery-ticket vendors - driving up the jackpot ever more - and Americans debating what they would do with such fabulous winnings.
The Powerball prize skyrocketed from $800 million on Friday, as the excitement built.
The lucky winner will take home an estimated $558 million if they choose a lump-sum cash prize, lottery officials said.
In the Powerball lottery, which takes place each Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm (0359 GMT), five white balls are drawn from a drum containing 69 balls, and one red one is pulled from a drum with 26.
To win the jackpot, a ticket holder has to match all the numbers on the six balls selected. The winner can choose to be paid the full jackpot in annual installments over 29 years -- or take a lower one-off payment in cash.
The previous jackpot record of $656 million, in March 30, 2012, was scooped up by three winners from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas.
The United States is in the grip of lottery fever, with long queues forming outside lottery-ticket vendors - driving up the jackpot ever more - and Americans debating what they would do with such fabulous winnings.
The Powerball prize skyrocketed from $800 million on Friday, as the excitement built.
The lucky winner will take home an estimated $558 million if they choose a lump-sum cash prize, lottery officials said.
In the Powerball lottery, which takes place each Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm (0359 GMT), five white balls are drawn from a drum containing 69 balls, and one red one is pulled from a drum with 26.
To win the jackpot, a ticket holder has to match all the numbers on the six balls selected. The winner can choose to be paid the full jackpot in annual installments over 29 years -- or take a lower one-off payment in cash.
The previous jackpot record of $656 million, in March 30, 2012, was scooped up by three winners from North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas.
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