Even Lottery Officials Are Shocked At The Powerball Jackpot Amount
DENVER (CBS4) - Lottery fever is growing nationwide as the Powerball jackpot is now at an estimated $1.3 billion.
People are already buying their tickets for the next drawing because the jackpot is so big. The signs can't even show the current prize. They are stuck at $999 million. Even lottery officials are shocked about the massive jackpot.
"This is uncharted, unprecedented territory for us. It's great," Brooke Christopher with the Colorado Lottery said. "The jackpot signs around the state you will see indicate $999 million, but don't worry, it's actually $1.3 billion."
While odds are not in your favor at one in 292 million, Christopher just hopes it's a Colorado winner as it would be a great boost to the state's economy and the outdoors.
"The Colorado Lottery is the only lottery where 100 percent of the funds are allocated directly towards the outdoors," she said.
As Wednesday's possible payout nears, Christopher reminds players that lower tier prizes are always a possibility as well. And that even though no one has pulled the jackpot since Nov. 4's original $40 million, if nobody wins again the jackpot could grow even bigger.
"If Wednesday night's jackpot drawing for $1.3 billion does not get hit, the sky is the limit," Christopher said. "We have no idea where it could go."
The Powerball lottery drawing is scheduled for this Wednesday at 9 p.m. A lump-sum cash payment is currently worth an estimated $806 million.
LINK: Colorado Lottery