Powerball Jackpot Hits $500 Million

Sally Lunsford - Tue 02:22 PM 11/27/2012

Powerball tickets are sold in Kansas everywhere that Kansas Lottery tickets are sold.

Could Kansas have another record multi-million dollar jackpot winner? It could happen if a ticket sold in Kansas matches all numbers in Wednesday night's Powerball drawing!

The monster jackpot is now an estimated $500 million (annuity), with a cash option of $327 million, and sets a new record for Powerball. Excitement over a record jackpot is spurring sales nationwide, leading the Multi-State Lottery Association to raise the jackpot estimate today.

“It’s certainly possible that a Kansas player could win or share in this incredible jackpot. It’s happened before,” said Neysa Thomas, Deputy Executive Director of the Kansas Lottery.

A Kansas ticket sold in Ottawa shared a third of a $656 million world record Mega Millions jackpot on March 30 of this year. Players hoping to find similar luck are flocking to Lottery retailers throughout the state for a chance to win another record jackpot.

“I’m thinking it would be great to hit it in Kansas, especially if it’s a ticket that’s sold at my store!” said Craig Hoffman, owner of Gas N Shop 1 in Topeka. Hoffman says sales are picking up and will be especially brisk tomorrow.

“We’re definitely seeing a big increase in the number of Powerball tickets we’re selling,” said David Hammond, manager of Quik Trip 366 in Wichita. “By tomorrow, we expect long lines and a real buying frenzy.”

“It’s already very busy. By Wednesday, we’ll probably have one person whose job it is just to print Powerball tickets,” reported Dustin Gillihan, a cashier at Petro Deli in Topeka.

“There is definitely a lot of excitement about this huge jackpot,” reported Tommy Ly, owner of KC Gas and Grocery in Wichita. “Everybody wants to win, including me!”

Powerball jackpots start at $40 million. This will be the 16th Powerball drawing since a Delaware player captured a $50 million jackpot on October 3, 2012. Powerball costs $2 per play, or $3 if the player purchases Power Play, which multiplies all prizes won except for the jackpot.

“We’re expecting very high Powerball sales in Kansas for this drawing,” said Thomas. “Kansas sales were $3.4 million for the single drawing March 30, 2012, that produced the world record Mega Millions jackpot, and it’s possible we could surpass that.”

While large jackpots generate excitement, the Kansas Lottery reminds players to play responsibly and not spend beyond their means. Players must be 18 years of age or older to purchase lottery tickets.

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