Powerball announces delay to record-breaking $1.9B drawing
Published:Tuesday | November 8, 2022 | 8:36 AM
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The record-breaking $1.9 billion Powerball drawing was delayed because a participating lottery had issues processing sales and it's likely that the results won't be known until later Tuesday, officials said.
“Powerball requires all 48 participating lotteries to submit their sales and play data prior to the winning numbers being selected. Once Powerball receives the outstanding submission, the drawing can proceed,” the Multi-State Lottery Association said in a statement.
Nearly three hours after the scheduled 10:59 p.m. EST Monday drawing, the association told The Associated Press: “It's against our policy to name the lottery that is experiencing the delay.”
On Tuesday morning, the association said in a new statement that Powerball was “in communication with the lottery throughout the night as it works to resolve the issue.”
“Like the rest of America, Powerball is eager to hold its drawing for the world record jackpot, however, protecting the integrity of the draw is of utmost importance, even if that means a further delay,” the statement said.
The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing will be posted to the Powerball website and YouTube channel. Players should hold onto their tickets, the statement said.
The jackpot is nearly $400 million larger than the previous record jackpot and will keep growing until someone wins the prize.
Only four previous jackpots have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current prize, which started at $20 million back on August 6 and over three winless months has grown ever more massive. No one has won the jackpot since August 3.
A winner who chooses an annuity, paid annually over 29 years, would get the estimated $1.9 billion payout. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which for Monday's drawing would be $929.1 million.
The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
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