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| Powerball lottery prize at $550m before Wednesday draw | Powerball lottery prize at $550m before Wednesday draw |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A record Powerball lottery jackpot has swelled to $550m (£344m) ahead of Wednesday's prize draw, officials say. | A record Powerball lottery jackpot has swelled to $550m (£344m) ahead of Wednesday's prize draw, officials say. |
| A single winner could take as much as $360m before taxes. But the odds of scooping the top prize have been calculated at one in 175 million. | A single winner could take as much as $360m before taxes. But the odds of scooping the top prize have been calculated at one in 175 million. |
| Tickets were selling at a rate of 130,000 a minute nationwide - about six times the volume from a week ago. | Tickets were selling at a rate of 130,000 a minute nationwide - about six times the volume from a week ago. |
| It is the second largest jackpot in history, behind a Mega Millions prize of $656m in March. | It is the second largest jackpot in history, behind a Mega Millions prize of $656m in March. |
| The jackpot has already rolled over 16 consecutive times without a winner, but Powerball officials say they now believe there is a 75% chance the winning combination will be drawn this time. | The jackpot has already rolled over 16 consecutive times without a winner, but Powerball officials say they now believe there is a 75% chance the winning combination will be drawn this time. |
| Statisticians' calculations that a player has more chance of becoming US president, dying from a bee sting or getting struck by lightning than hitting the jackpot have done little to deter ticket sales. | |
| 'Join the hype' | 'Join the hype' |
| The prize fund has also been boosted by late sales to those who rarely play the lottery. | |
| "I've been thinking about winning this money and what I'd do with it," first-time ticket buyer Pat Powell told the Associated Press in Atlanta, Georgia. | "I've been thinking about winning this money and what I'd do with it," first-time ticket buyer Pat Powell told the Associated Press in Atlanta, Georgia. |
| "Let me just join the hype and just do it." | "Let me just join the hype and just do it." |
| In New York, another player, Nelson Batista, told Reuters news agency that if he won: "Maybe I change my face and my whole body and I make myself more younger." | In New York, another player, Nelson Batista, told Reuters news agency that if he won: "Maybe I change my face and my whole body and I make myself more younger." |
| Forty-two US states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands participate in the Powerball lottery. | Forty-two US states, the District of Columbia and the US Virgin Islands participate in the Powerball lottery. |
| Earlier this year officials doubled the price of Powerball lottery tickets in January to $2. Despite an initial drop in sales, revenue is reportedly about 35% higher than 2011 figures. | Earlier this year officials doubled the price of Powerball lottery tickets in January to $2. Despite an initial drop in sales, revenue is reportedly about 35% higher than 2011 figures. |
| In 2012, the company raised nearly $4bn in sales and it is projected to make $5bn in 2013, reports the Associated Press news agency. | In 2012, the company raised nearly $4bn in sales and it is projected to make $5bn in 2013, reports the Associated Press news agency. |