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| US frenzy for world's largest lottery draw | US frenzy for world's largest lottery draw |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands are queuing up outside shops across the US to buy a chance to win the world's biggest lottery prize. | |
| The US Powerball lottery has grown to $1.5bn (£1.04bn) ahead of Wednesday night's draw. | The US Powerball lottery has grown to $1.5bn (£1.04bn) ahead of Wednesday night's draw. |
| Extra staff have been brought in at many shops, as customers hope to defy the odds of 292.2 million to one. | |
| The last draw on 9 January was the 19th without a grand prize winner, which requires all six numbers to match. | The last draw on 9 January was the 19th without a grand prize winner, which requires all six numbers to match. |
| The winner - assuming no split in the prize - stands to take home the jackpot in annual payments over 29 years. He or she could also choose to one smaller payout of $930m. | The winner - assuming no split in the prize - stands to take home the jackpot in annual payments over 29 years. He or she could also choose to one smaller payout of $930m. |
| The government would share in the big prize, however, levying a 39.6% federal income tax on the winner, plus any taxes that the winner's home state may impose. | The government would share in the big prize, however, levying a 39.6% federal income tax on the winner, plus any taxes that the winner's home state may impose. |
| After paying tax, however, the winner would still be wealthier than Beyonce and Lionel Messi, according to Agence France Presse. | After paying tax, however, the winner would still be wealthier than Beyonce and Lionel Messi, according to Agence France Presse. |
| Follow the money | |
| Is this really the biggest? | |
| The current $1.5bn jackpot is a whopping $600m more than previous record holder. A March 2012 drawing of the US lottery Mega Millions had a $656m prize shared by three winners. In Europe, the largest lottery prizes have been lower than in the US but the jackpots are given as a lump sum rather than as an annuity and most countries do not tax the winnings. The biggest European prize was won in July 2011 by a ticketholder in the UK. That person took home a lump sum of $260m (£161.7m). | |
| Where do Powerball profits go? | |
| Back to the participating states. For example, New Jersey has sold more than $50m in tickets during this current jackpot craze and lottery officials said about $20m of that would return to the state. More than 15 states use the profits to fund education. However, schools aren't expecting a huge windfall. California officials estimate the lottery money accounts for about 1% of the state's education budget. In Wisconsin, the profits go towards lowering property taxes. | |
| How did the jackpot get so big? | |
| No one has won the draw since 4 November. The prize is based on ticket sales so high jackpots usually create a snowball effect until a winning combination is picked. A new format introduced in October makes these massive jackpots more likely, meaning more records could be broken in future. | |
| The states that don't play Powerball | |
| The world's (other) largest lotteries | |
| Across the country, shops selling tickets have faced a frenzy of customers and the rush has forced managers to boost staffing to reduce queues. | Across the country, shops selling tickets have faced a frenzy of customers and the rush has forced managers to boost staffing to reduce queues. |
| Shopkeepers are hoping for a boost in other sales from the lottery mania, with people opting for a snack or drink while waiting for their lucky numbers. | Shopkeepers are hoping for a boost in other sales from the lottery mania, with people opting for a snack or drink while waiting for their lucky numbers. |
| Six of the 50 US states do not participate in the lottery, forcing some of their residents to drive hours to buy tickets. | Six of the 50 US states do not participate in the lottery, forcing some of their residents to drive hours to buy tickets. |
| Alabama, Mississippi and Utah cite religious reasons, while Alaska has said it would not be economical in such a sparsely populated state. | Alabama, Mississippi and Utah cite religious reasons, while Alaska has said it would not be economical in such a sparsely populated state. |
| In Hawaii, proposed legislation to start it fails consistently and in Nevada the lottery is rejected because the state's world famous casinos prefer not to have competition. | In Hawaii, proposed legislation to start it fails consistently and in Nevada the lottery is rejected because the state's world famous casinos prefer not to have competition. |
| Nevertheless, residents in these states are itching for tickets. | Nevertheless, residents in these states are itching for tickets. |
| The Multi-State Lottery Association, which manages Powerball, has said some of the largest ticket sales come from border cities. | The Multi-State Lottery Association, which manages Powerball, has said some of the largest ticket sales come from border cities. |
| Reports say that residents of Nevada are driving across the desert to California where they have been queuing for hours for a chance to win - a testament to the jackpot's powers of temptation over people who are four times more likely to be killed by an asteroid impact this year. | Reports say that residents of Nevada are driving across the desert to California where they have been queuing for hours for a chance to win - a testament to the jackpot's powers of temptation over people who are four times more likely to be killed by an asteroid impact this year. |