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Powerball is an American lottery operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a consortium of lottery commissions in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball is licensed as the monopoly provider of multistate lotteries in these jurisdictions. Powerball may refer to: Powerball, a multi-state lottery game in the United States. ... Image File history File links Powerballlogo. ... Image File history File links Powerballlogo. ... A lottery is a popular form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize. ... The Multi-State Lottery Association is a non-profit, government-benefit association owned and operated by its member lotteries. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... A monopoly (from the Greek language monos, one + polein, to sell) is defined as a persistent market situation where there is only one provider of a product or service, in other words a firm that has no competitors in its industry. ...

Started in 1988[1] as Lotto America, the game, and name, was officially changed to Powerball on April 19, 1992. The matrix has been changed periodically. On March 4, 2001, an optional multiplier wheel was added. On November 2, 1997, the annuity period was changed from 20 to 25 years, and the cash option was added. The annuity currently consists of 30 graduated payments (increasing annually) over a period of 29 years. Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays; the current estimated jackpot for Saturday, September 22, 2007 is $48 million^[1]; the cash option is $23.2 million. There have been four rollovers since the last jackpot win, which was for the September 5, 2007 drawing; that ticket was purchased in Wisconsin. The most recent successful claim of a jackpot winner was for a ticket bought in Richmond, Indiana, for the August 25, 2007 drawing, worth approximately $314.3 million (annuity value; the cash option of over $145 million was chosen instead. The winner, an Ohio family, went public on September 10, 2007.) April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Four is devoted to the development of an uninhibited artistic exploration of ideas, discourses and new trends in contemporary art and its practices. ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Richmond (IPA: ) is a city in east central Indiana, which borders Ohio. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Richmond, IN had also produced the then-U.S. record $295.7 million (annuity) winning ticket for Powerball (July 29, 1998.) A group of 13 Ohio machine-shop workers claimed that ticket. The businesses in Richmond (both of the Speedway convenience-store chain) that have produced two of the largest Powerball winners are situated about three miles (about five kilometers) apart. is the 210th day of the year (211th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Speedway has multiple meanings: An alternative name for a race track Speedway, Indiana, home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway The gas station chain Speedway SuperAmerica Motorcycle speedway, a form of motorcycle racing The name of a |Scottish pop rock group who hit the UK charts in 2003. ...

Due to the incredible success of Powerball, the secondary MUSL jackpot game "Hot Lotto" was launched in April 2002 as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of Powerball. The newer game is played the same (albeit with no PowerPlay option or a "bonus" second prize.) Hot Lotto has seen steady growth in its own right, and by 2008 will be available in nearly half (13 of 31) of the jurisdictions offering Powerball. Hot Lotto logo Hot Lotto is administered by the United States Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), which also operates the Powerball lottery game. ...

Playing the game

As of 2007, to play the game, a player pays one dollar and picks five numbers from 1 to 55 (white balls) and one additional number from 1 to 42 (the Powerball number, a red ball). For an additional dollar, the player may activate the optional Power Play feature, which applies a random multiplier to all prizes except the jackpot. Many states have set up Lottery games that award a substantial prize, often in the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars to some lucky winner or group of winners. ... Jackpot is: A former British comic. ...

A promotion from March 2 through March 29, 2006, replaced one of the four 5x slots on the Power Play wheel with 10x. The 10x multiplier was drawn once, on March 11, 2006. The 10x multiplier returned in April 2007; again, it came up once. April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 279th day of the year (280th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 70th day of the year (71st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The player wins according to the following:

Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 36.61. Jackpot is: A former British comic. ...

Jackpot winners have the option of receiving an annuity prize or a single lump sum cash payment. The minimum jackpot prize is a $15 million annuity disbursed in 30 payments over 29 years. When the jackpot rolls over, it increases by at least $5 million (e.g. $20 million after one roll.) The lump sum payment is typically approximately half the annuity value. The 30 annuity payments are not equal but based on an increasing rate schedule. For example, the first annual gross annuity payment on the base $15 million jackpot would be approximately $267,000 while the final payment would be approximately $834,000. Annuity contracts are offered by organizations and individuals that may accumulate value and take a current value and pay it out over a period of years. ...

Generally, Powerball jackpot winners do not have to choose cash or annuity until after claiming (then they have 60 days to do so.) However, at least in Missouri, the 60-day clock starts with the drawing, so a Missouri Lottery Powerball winner who wishes to take the lump sum needs to make plans right away to claim their prize. Powerball winners, including the jackpot, must claim their prizes within a period ranging from 90 days to one year, depending on the rules of the MUSL member where the ticket was bought.

When the cash option began in November 1997, all Powerball players had to choose, when buying a ticket, whether they wished to receive a jackpot prize in lump sum or (at the time) 25 annual payments. About a year later, a new Federal law no longer required the cash/annuity choice to be made in advance. The MUSL members then phased in the new regulations.

Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday (days following Mega Millions drawings) at MUSL's headquarters in Urbandale, Iowa, normally at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time (9:59 p.m. Central.) Drawings are occasionally scheduled at remote locations; when this occurs, the time may be adjusted, but the day remains the same. The results of drawings are not official until they are audited by the accounting firm LWBJ, LLP. Mega Millions logo Mega Millions is a multi-state US$1 lottery game in the United States. ... Urbandale is a city in Polk County, and partially in Dallas County, in the state of Iowa. ... The Eastern Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting five hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ...

Machines used

Two machines are used in this game. The balls are mixed by a turntable at the bottom of the machine that propels the balls around the chamber, then when the machine selects a ball, the turntable slows to catch a ball, sends it up the shaft, and then down the rail to the display.

Winning expectation

Because the quoted jackpot amount is paid as an annuity over 29 years, its immediate cash value to the winner is close to, but less than, half ^[3] the quoted jackpot amount. The winner may choose to accept the annuity or the cash value (see above). Annuity contracts are offered by organizations and individuals that may accumulate value and take a current value and pay it out over a period of years. ...

When the Jackpot is $200M, a player's winning expectation is -14% if no one else is playing. This is the best scenario for the player because the winning will not be diluted in sharing. The expectation of -14% means that the player will lose about 14 cents on a $1 ticket, on average. The player will lose more in reality because others are also playing.

The player's expectation gets better when the jackpot becomes higher. If the jackpot is $400M, a player's winning expectation becomes 54% before tax. If the jackpot is $30M, a player's winning expectation becomes -72%. The break even point is for the jackpot to be $242M, in which case the player loses no more than the tax paid. All these numbers are based on the best scenario in which no other players are sharing the prize.

With the jackpot at various levels, if a player pays $1, the net expectation is shown in the following table:

Odds decrease, payouts increase

On August 28, 2005, the game was modified to provide larger jackpots and faster jackpot pool growth. The main pool of numbers was increased from 53 to 55 and jackpots now begin at $15 million rather than $10 million. The Powerball number pool remains 42. is the 240th day of the year (241st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Odds of picking the jackpot winning numbers decreased to 1:146.1 million. Overall odds of winning a prize increased slightly to 1:36.61.

Some lower tier prizes also increased. The second tier prize increased from $100,000 to $200,000 and the third tier prize doubled to $10,000.

Largest payoffs

On February 18, 2006, the jackpot worth $365 million was won by a single ticket sold in Lincoln, Nebraska. That single ticket was shared by eight meat plant workers. This is the largest Powerball prize (per ticket). is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Location in Nebraska Coordinates: , Country   State     County United States   Nebraska     Lancaster Founded[1]   Renamed   Incorporated 1856   July 29, 1867   April 1, 1869 Government  - Mayor Chris Beutler Area  - City 195. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Largest metro area Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ...

A grand prize won on October 19, 2005 worth $340 million was awarded to the West family in Jacksonville, Oregon. The family won less than two months after the rules were changed to promote larger payouts. Steve West, who purchased the ticket, put in $20 for tickets, along with another $20 from his in-laws. The family planned to split the prize among themselves. is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jacksonville is a city located in Jackson County, Oregon. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ...

Prior to the $340 million winner, Jack Whittaker of West Virginia was the claimant to the biggest jackpot. He won $314 million on Christmas Day, 2002. Andrew Jackson “Jack” Whittaker, Jr. ... Official language(s) English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Area  Ranked 41st  - Total 24,244 sq mi (62,809 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 240 miles (385 km)  - % water 0. ... is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

On August 25, 2007, a jackpot worth $314 million was won by a retired auto worker from Ohio. is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ...

Fortune cookie payout

The Powerball drawing of the March 30, 2005 game produced an unprecedented 110 second-place winners, all of whom picked the first five numbers correctly, but not the Powerball number. The total came out to $19.4 million in unexpected payouts; 89 tickets won $100,000, and the other 21 tickets won $500,000 due to the Power Play multiplier option. is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... There are several things called a Multiplier. ...

Powerball officials initially suspected fraud, but it turned out that all the winners received their numbers from fortune cookies made by Wonton Food Inc., a fortune cookie factory in Long Island City, Queens, New York. The factory had printed the five regular numbers (22, 28, 32, 33, and 39) on thousands of fortunes. The sixth number in the fortune, 40, did not match the Powerball number, 42. None of the employees of Wonton Food played those numbers. This article is about the cookie associated with Chinese American restaurants. ... Long Island City, New York, often abbreviated L.I.C., is in the Queens borough of New York City. ...

Participating states and territories

Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Arizona Lottery is run by the state of Arizona. ... The Connecticut Lottery is run by the state of Connecticut. ... Colorado Lottery logo The Colorado Lottery is run by the state of Colorado. ... The Delaware Lottery is run by the state of Delaware. ... The D.C. (District of Columbia) Lottery is run the city of Washington, the capital of the United States. ... The Idaho Lottery, begun on July 19, 1989, is run by the state of Idaho. ... The Hoosier Lottery is run by the state of Indiana. ... The Iowa Lottery is run by the state of Iowa. ... The Kansas Lottery is run by the state of Kansas. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area  Ranked 37th  - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... The current Louisiana Lottery is run by the state of Louisiana. ... The Maine Lottery is run by the state of Maine. ... Official Logo Minnesota State Lottery is the official lottery association for the state of Minnesota. ... The Missouri Lottery is run by the state of Missouri. ... The Montana Lottery is run by the state of Montana. ... The Nebraska Lottery is run by the state of Nebraska. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The New Mexico Lottery is run by the state of New Mexico. ... The North Carolina Education Lottery was enacted when Governor Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act (H. 1023) and the 2005 Appropriations Act (S. 622) on 31 August 2005. ... The North Dakota Lottery is run by the U.S. state of North Dakota. ... The Oklahoma Lottery is one of the newest state lotteries created in the United States. ... Official language(s) (none)[1] Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... The Pennsylvania Lottery is the state lottery of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ... The Rhode Island Lottery is run by the state of Rhode Island. ... The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) is run by the state of South Carolina. ... The South Dakota Lottery is run by the state of South Dakota. ... The Tennessee Lottery is run by the state of Tennessee. ... Official language(s) None Capital Montpelier Largest city Burlington Area  Ranked 45th  - Total 9,620 sq mi (24,923 km²)  - Width 80 miles (130 km)  - Length 160 miles (260 km)  - % water 3. ... The West Virginia Lottery is run by the state government. ... The Wisconsin Lottery is a lottery run by the state of Wisconsin. ...

The minimum age to play Powerball is 18, except in Nebraska (19); Arizona, Iowa, and Louisiana (all 21).

Powerball winnings are exempt from state income taxes in Delaware, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. There is no state income tax in New Hampshire (except on interest and dividends), South Dakota and Tennessee.^[4] Tax rates around the world Tax revenue as % of GDP Economic policy Monetary policy Central bank   Money supply Fiscal policy Spending   Deficit   Debt Trade policy Tariff   Trade agreement Finance Financial market Financial market participants Corporate   Personal Public   Banking   Regulation        An income tax is a tax levied on the financial income...

Maine started offering the then-Lotto*America in 1990, but dropped out of MUSL two years later, when Powerball began. Only in 2004 did Maine begin selling Powerball tickets.

Georgia left Powerball in 1996 to join the Big Game (now Mega Millions), the other major US multi-state lottery. Mega Millions logo Mega Millions is a multi-state US$1 lottery game in the United States. ...

In 1998, Florida was given permission by the state government to join a multi-state game. It was set to offer Powerball; however, in early 1999, the new governor, Jeb Bush, prevented Florida from joining, since he believed Powerball would hurt the state's existing lottery games. Currently, Florida does not participate in either Powerball or Mega Millions. The Florida Lottery is one of the most lucrative single-state lottery systems in the United States with numerous On-line and Scratch-Off games offering players a wide variety of prize levels. ... John Ellis Jeb Bush (born February 11, 1953), a Republican, is the forty-third and current Governor of Florida. ...

California never had any intention of offering Powerball; however, it joined MUSL since there was a planned "international" lottery game; but it never got off the ground. It currently participates in Mega Millions. California state law allows pari-mutuel prizes for online games, and so amounts are not fixed, as they are in other state lotteries. ...

Licensed products

In 2006 WMS Gaming released a range of slot machines under the Powerball brand name. WMS Industries Inc. ... Slot machines in the Trump Taj Mahal A slot machine is a certain type of gambling machine. ...

Vista Sidebar Gadgets

In 2007 The Oregon Lottery released a new Windows Vista Sidebar gadget which relays the winning numbers for Powerball in live time. The gadget also provides large jackpot announcements. Oregon Lottery Oregon Lottery logo The Oregon Lottery is the official lottery of the State of Oregon. ...

References

1. ^ "Powerball.com." Powerball. April 27, 2007. Retrieved on April 27, 2007.
2. ^ Powerball - Prizes and Odds. Retrieved on 2006-02-16.
3. ^ The actual ratio depends on projected interest rates and other factors. They start with the cash value and calculate the advertised Jackpot amount from that. See http://www.powerball.com/pb_contact.asp
4. ^ The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2007 ISBN 0886879957 p.391

• April Witt (January 30, 2005). "Rich Man, Poor Man". The Washington Post Magazine, page 14.
• Jennifer 8. Lee (May 11, 2005). "Who Needs Giacomo? Bet on the Fortune Cookie". The New York Times. [3]
• Press release detailing March 30, 2005 payout.
• usamega.com Powerball Jackpot Analysis

April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Washington Post is the largest newspaper in Washington, D.C.. It is also one of the citys oldest papers, having been founded in 1877. ... Jennifer 8. ... is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Giacomo, a thoroughbred race horse trained by John Shirreffs, won the 2005 Kentucky Derby in 2:02. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ...

External links

• Official Powerball site
• MUSL/Powerball history page