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Powerball lottery prize at $550m before Wednesday draw US Powerball lottery: Two tickets share $550m jackpot
(about 3 hours later)
A record Powerball lottery jackpot has swelled to $550m (£344m) ahead of Wednesday's prize draw, officials say. Two winning tickets were bought for a share of a $550m (£344m) US Powerball lottery jackpot, the second biggest prize in US history, organisers say.
The numbers were 5, 23, 16, 22, 29 and 6 - but it is not clear if anyone has won. The jackpot swelled after 16 consecutive draws had failed to produce a winning ticket.
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. No-one has yet come forward to claim the prize.
It is the second-largest prize in history, behind a Mega Millions one of $656m in March. Tickets had been selling at a rate of 130,000 a minute nationwide, but the odds of scooping the top prize had 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. Statisticians calculated that a player had more chance of becoming US president, dying from a bee sting or getting struck by lightning than hitting the jackpot.
The jackpot has already rolled over 16 consecutive times without a winner. The numbers drawn late on Wednesday were 5, 23, 16, 22, 29 and 6.
Powerball officials say they believe there is a 75% chance the right 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. The prize fund had apparently been boosted by late purchases by 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'd 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. 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.Despite an initial drop in sales, revenue is reportedly about 35% higher than 2011 figures.
In 2012, the company has raised nearly $4bn in sales and it projects it will make $5bn next year.