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Powerball is an American lottery operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a consortium of lottery commissions in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A lottery is a form of Gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL is a non-profit government-benefit association owned and operated by agreement of its member lotteries A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D A Lottery exists within the United States Virgin Islands, the only US lottery outside the mainland and Puerto Rico. MUSL is licensed as the monopoly provider of multistate lotteries in these jurisdictions. In Economics, a monopoly (from Greek monos, alone or single + polein, to sell exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient

Powerball's predecessor began in 1988[2] as Lotto*America; the game, and name, were officially changed to Powerball on April 19, 1992. Lotto*America was the first lottery game offered by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) (MUSL then consisted of 14 states and Washington, D. C. ; Maine was a 16th member, but it left MUSL during the transition from L*A to Powerball; Maine would not offer the game until 2004. The Maine Lottery is run by the government of Maine. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL whose flagship game is Powerball ) Powerball was the brainchild of Ed Stanek of the Iowa Lottery. The matrix has been changed periodically. On March 4, 2001, an optional multiplier wheel (called "PowerPlay") was added. Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. PowerPlay is a multiplier used in the US multi-state lottery jackpot game Powerball; it is available in each of its 31 Jurisdictions (A similar multiplier is used On November 2, 1997, the annuity period was changed from 20 to 25 years, and the cash option was added. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The annuity currently consists of 30 graduated payments (increasing annually) over a period of 29 years. Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The most recent successful claim for a nine-figure Powerball jackpot winner ($100 million or higher annuity value) was for a ticket bought in Waseca, Rice County, Minnesota, for the May 3, 2008 drawing, worth approximately $180. Waseca is a city in Waseca County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 8493 at the 2000 census Rice County is a County located in the US state of Minnesota Minnesota State Lottery is the official Lottery association in Minnesota. Events 1491 - Kongo monarch Nkuwu Nzinga is baptised by Portuguese missionaries adopting the baptismal name of João 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common 1 million (annuity value); the ticket holders, married grandparents, chose the $88. 0 million cash option. Present value is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments discounted to reflect the Time value of money and other factors such as Investment They are the winner of the largest prize in Minnesota lottery history, and the 20th jackpot winner from that state in Powerball history. Minnesota State Lottery is the official Lottery association in Minnesota. Previously, the most recent successful claim of a $100 million or higher prize was for a ticket bought in Westover, West Virginia, at a video lottery establishment known as "Paula's", which was the sole winner of the March 15, 2008 drawing, and which had an approximate annuity value of $276. Westover is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States. Events 44 BC - Julius Caesar, Dictator of the Roman Republic, is stabbed to death by Marcus Junius Brutus, 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common 3 million. The winning group of eight women, all of whom work at a tax collector's office in Monongalia County, West Virginia, chose to take the cash option of $139 million instead. Monongalia County is a County located in the US state of West Virginia and is part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State. Present value is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments discounted to reflect the Time value of money and other factors such as Investment ^[1]

Among notable nine-figure wins prior to this was on a ticket that was purchased in Richmond, Indiana; that community had also produced the then-U. Richmond (ˈrɪtʃmənd is a city in Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, which borders Ohio. S. record $295. 7 million (annuity) winning ticket for Powerball (July 29, 1998. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) ) The businesses in Richmond, IN (both of the Speedway convenience-store chain) that have provided two of the largest Powerball winners are situated about three miles (five kilometers) apart.

Playing the game

As of May 2008, to play the game, a player pays $1 and picks five numbers from 1 to 55 (white balls) and one additional number from 1 to 42 (the red Powerball number. International holidays May 1 - Labour Day ( Pakistan) May 1 - Labour Day ( Singapore) Many states offer Lottery games that award a substantial prize (in the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars to one or more winners ) For an additional $1, the player may activate the optional PowerPlay feature, which applies a random multiplier, using a special wheel spun by the emcee, to all prizes except the jackpot. Depending on the PowerPlay number, players may multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2 to 5 (or, during a yearly promotion, 10x. )

A promotion from March 2 through March 29, 2006, replaced one of the four 5x slots on the PowerPlay wheel with 10x. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 51 - Nero, later to become Roman Emperor, is given the title Princeps iuventutis (head of the youth Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The 10x multiplier was drawn once, on March 11, 2006. Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The 10x multiplier returned in April 2007; again, it came up one time. The 10x space returned for a third time on April 2, 2008, with the ball finding the 10x space twice for the first time in a 10x promotional period. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Each year, MUSL guarantees that the ball will land in the 10x space at least once, extending the promotion into a second month, and beyond that, if necessary. The month is a unit of Time, used with Calendars which is approximately as long as some natural period related to the motion of the Moon;

The smaller Hot Lotto introduced its Sizzler on January 3, 2008; non-jackpot prizes are automatically tripled if the option is selected. For the restaurant chain go to Sizzler. The Sizzler is an add-on feature that became part of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL game Hot Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common In Mathematics a triple is an n-tuple with n being 3. A triple is a sequence of three elements (As of May 19, 2008, the Sizzler is available in 12 of the 13 Hot Lotto jurisdictions. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common )

Payout is according to the following:

Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 36. 61.

Jackpot winners have the option of receiving an annuity prize or a single lump sum cash payment. The minimum jackpot prize is a $15 million annuity disbursed in 30 payments over 29 years. An annuity contract is a Financial product typically offered by a Financial institution, that may accumulate value and take a current value and pay it out over When the jackpot rolls over, it increases by at least $5 million (e. g. $20 million after one roll. ) The lump sum payment is typically approximately half the annuity value. The 30 annuity payments are not equal but based on an increasing rate schedule. For example, the first annual gross annuity payment on the base $15 million jackpot would be approximately $267,000 while the final payment would be approximately $834,000.

Generally, Powerball jackpot winners do not have to choose cash or annuity until after claiming (then they have 60 days to do so. ) However, at least in Missouri, the 60-day clock starts with the drawing, so a Missouri Lottery Powerball winner who wishes to take the lump sum needs to make plans right away to claim their prize. Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee Powerball winners, including the jackpot, must claim their prizes within a period ranging from 90 days to one year, depending on the rules of the MUSL member where the ticket was bought.

When the cash option began in November 1997, all Powerball players had to choose, when buying a ticket, whether they wished to receive a jackpot prize in lump sum or (at the time) 25 annual payments. Present value is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments discounted to reflect the Time value of money and other factors such as Investment About a year later, a new Federal law no longer required the cash/annuity choice to be made in advance. The MUSL members phased in the new regulations.

Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday (the night after Mega Millions drawings) at MUSL's headquarters in Urbandale, Iowa, normally at 10:59 p. Mega Millions is a multi-jurisdictional US$ 1 Lottery Game in the United States. Urbandale is a city in Polk and Dallas counties in the US state of Iowa. m. Eastern Time (9:59 p. The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America m. Central. ) Drawings are occasionally scheduled at remote locations; when this occurs, the time may be adjusted, but the day remains the same. The results of drawings are not official until they are audited by the accounting firm LWBJ, LLP.

Machines used

Two machines are used in this game. The balls are mixed by a turntable at the bottom of the machine that propels the balls around the chamber, then when the machine selects a ball, the turntable slows to catch a ball, sends it up the shaft, and then down the rail to the display.

Winning expectation

Because the quoted jackpot amount is paid as an annuity over 29 years, its immediate cash value to the winner is close to, but less than, half the advertised amount of the prize. An annuity contract is a Financial product typically offered by a Financial institution, that may accumulate value and take a current value and pay it out over The actual ratio depends on projected interest rates and other factors. MUSL starts with the cash value, and then calculate the advertised Jackpot amount from that value. ^[3]

When the actual Jackpot is $200M, a player's winning expectation is -14% if no one else is playing. This is the best scenario for the player because the winning will not be diluted in sharing. The expectation of -14% means that the player will lose about 14 cents on a $1 ticket, on average. The player will lose more in reality because others are also playing.

The player's expectation gets better when the jackpot becomes higher. If the jackpot is $400M, a player's winning expectation becomes 54% before tax. If the jackpot is $30M, a player's winning expectation becomes -72%. The break even point is for the jackpot to be $242M, in which case the player loses no more than the tax paid. All these numbers are based on the best scenario in which no other players are sharing the prize.

With the jackpot at various levels, if a player pays $1, the net expectation is shown in the following table:

Odds decrease, payouts increase

On August 28, 2005, the game was modified to provide larger jackpots and faster jackpot pool growth. Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The main pool of numbers was increased from 53 to 55 and jackpots now begin at $15 million rather than $10 million. The Powerball number pool remains 42.

Odds of picking the jackpot winning numbers are 1:146. 1 million. Overall odds of winning a prize are 1:36. 61.

Powerball's most recent change resulted in the increase of some lower-tier prizes, including the doubling of second prize (to $200,000 without PowerPlay) and third prize (to $10,000. )

Largest payoffs

On February 18, 2006, the jackpot worth $365 million was won by a single ticket sold in Nebraska. Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and That single ticket was shared by eight meat plant workers. This is the largest Powerball prize (per ticket).

A grand prize won on October 19, 2005 worth $340 million was awarded to the West family of Jacksonville, Oregon. Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, a few miles west of Medford. The family won less than two months after the rules were changed to promote larger payouts. Steve West, who purchased the ticket, put in $20 for tickets, along with another $20 from his in-laws. The family planned to split the prize among themselves.

Prior to the $340 million winner, Jack Whittaker of West Virginia was the claimant to the biggest jackpot. Andrew Jackson “Jack” Whittaker Jr (born c 1947 in Jumping Branch, Summers County, West Virginia) is a West Virginia businessman West Virginia ( is a state in the Appalachian Upland South, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by He won $314 million on Christmas Day, 2002. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar.

On August 25, 2007, a jackpot worth $314 million was won by a retired auto worker from Ohio. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads

Fortune cookie payout

The Powerball drawing of the March 30, 2005 game produced an unprecedented 110 second-place winners, all of whom picked the first five numbers correctly, but not the Powerball number. Events 240 BC - 1st recorded Perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The total came out to $19. 4 million in unexpected payouts; 89 tickets won $100,000, and the other 21 tickets won $500,000 due to the Power Play multiplier option.

Powerball officials initially suspected fraud, but it turned out that all the winners received their numbers from fortune cookies made by Wonton Food Inc. , a fortune cookie factory in Long Island City, Queens, New York. Long Island City (often abbreviated LIC) is the western-most neighborhood of the borough of Queens in New York City. The factory had printed the five regular numbers (22, 28, 32, 33, and 39) on thousands of fortunes. The sixth number in the fortune, 40, did not match the Powerball number, 42. None of the employees of Wonton Food played those numbers.

Participating states and territories

Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Arizona Lottery is run by the government of Arizona. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL The Connecticut Lottery is run by the government of Connecticut. The Colorado Lottery is run by the government of Colorado It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL The Delaware Lottery is run by the state of Delaware. Its games include Powerball, which is the flagship game of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL This article deals with the lottery for the District of Columbia. The Idaho Lottery, begun on July 19, 1989, is run by the government of Idaho. The Hoosier Lottery is run by the State of Indiana. It is the only lottery in the United States that uses the state's Nickname, rather than the state name The Iowa Lottery is run by the state of Iowa. It is a charter member and the home of the Multi-State Lottery Association. The Kansas Lottery is run by the government of Kansas. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. The current Louisiana Lottery Corporation is run by the state of Louisiana. The Maine Lottery is run by the government of Maine. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL whose flagship game is Powerball Minnesota State Lottery is the official Lottery association in Minnesota. The Missouri Lottery is run by the government of Missouri. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL whose first drawing was held in 1988 The Montana Lottery is run by the government of Montana. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and Begun in 1964 the New Hampshire Lottery (originally known as the "New Hampshire Sweepstakes" is the oldest modern US Lottery. The New Mexico Lottery is run by the government of New Mexico. The North Carolina Education Lottery was enacted when Governor Mike Easley signed the North Carolina State Lottery Act ( H. The North Dakota Lottery is run by the government of North Dakota. The Oklahoma Lottery, which began on October 12, 2005, is operated by the government of Oklahoma. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Pennsylvania Lottery is the state Lottery of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Rhode Island Lottery is run by the government of Rhode Island. The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL began in 2002 South Carolina is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL best known for the The South Dakota Lottery is run by the government of South Dakota. The Tennessee Lottery is run by the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation (TELC which was created on June 11, 2003, by the Tennessee General Assembly Vermont ( is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The West Virginia Lottery is run by government of West Virginia. The Wisconsin Lottery is run by the government of Wisconsin. It is a member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL The United States Virgin Islands is a group of Islands in the Caribbean that are an Insular area of the United States.

The minimum age to play Powerball is 18, except in Nebraska (19); Arizona, Iowa, and Louisiana (21).

Powerball winnings are exempt from state income taxes in Delaware,Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia. There is no state income tax in South Dakota, and only on interest and dividends in New Hampshire and Tennessee. . ^[4] Winnings from tickets purchased across state lines may be subject to tax from the state of purchase (with possible credit for taxes paid to one's own state or vice versa).

Maine started offering the then-Lotto*America in 1990, but dropped out of MUSL two years later, when Powerball began. Only in 2004 did Maine begin selling Powerball tickets.

Georgia left Powerball in 1996 to join the Big Game (now Mega Millions), the other major US multi-state lottery. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Mega Millions is a multi-jurisdictional US$ 1 Lottery Game in the United States.

In 1998, Florida was given permission by the state government to join a multi-state game. The Florida Lottery is one of the most lucrative single-state Lottery systems in the United States with numerous on-line and scratch-off games offering It was set to offer Powerball; however, in early 1999, the new governor, Jeb Bush, prevented Florida from joining, since he believed Powerball would hurt the state's existing lottery games. John Ellis "Jeb" Bush (born February 11, 1953) is an American Politician and was the 43rd Governor of Florida Currently, Florida is the only lottery state that does not participate in either Powerball or Mega Millions.

California never had any intention of offering Powerball; however, it joined MUSL since there was a planned "international" lottery game; but it never got off the ground. The California State Lottery began on November 6 1984 after California residents passed Proposition 37, the California Lottery Act authorizing the It currently participates in Mega Millions.

Licensed products

In 2006 WMS Gaming released a range of slot machines under the Powerball brand name. WMS Industries Inc ( is a long-standing American electronic gaming and amusement company based in Waukegan Illinois. A slot machine ( American) fruit machine ( British) or poker machine ( Australian) is a Casino gambling machine with three

Vista Sidebar Gadget

In 2007 the Oregon Lottery released a new Windows Vista Sidebar gadget which relays the winning numbers for Powerball in live time. The Oregon Lottery is run by the State of Oregon. History The Oregon Lottery was enabled by an amendment to the Oregon Constitution approved The gadget also provides large jackpot announcements. Oregon Lottery

In November 2007, Lottery Post released the Lottery Results Gadget for Windows Vista, providing near real-time winning numbers for Powerball, in addition to results for every other lottery game offered in each state. Events in November All Saints' Day (formerly All Hallows Day a Christian holy day is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. A lottery is a form of Gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize Likewise, new jackpots are pushed to the Windows Sidebar gadget after they are announced. The Windows Sidebar is a Widget engine for Microsoft Gadgets, which is anchored to the side of the desktop.

References

1. ^ "Co-workers claim $276.3 Million PowerBall Jackpot" USA Today - Retrieved on March 18, 2008
2. ^ Powerball - Prizes and Odds. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Retrieved on 2006-02-16. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1249 - Andrew of Longjumeau is dispatched by Louis IX of France as his ambassador to meet with the Khan of the Mongols
3. ^ [1] Powerball website.
4. ^ The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2007 ISBN 0886879957 p. 391

• April Witt (January 30, 2005). Events 1648 - Eighty Years' War: The Treaty of Münster is signed ending the conflict between the Netherlands and Spain Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "Rich Man, Poor Man". The Washington Post Magazine, page 14. The Washington Post is the largest and most circulated Newspaper in Washington D
• Jennifer 8. Lee (May 11, 2005). Jennifer 8 Lee (Chinese name 李[[wikt 競|競]] Pinyin: Lǐ Jìng is a New York Times Reporter for the Metro section Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "Who Needs Giacomo? Bet on the Fortune Cookie". Giacomo is a Male Given name, Italian version of James. It may be refer to People Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924 The New York Times. [4]
• Press release detailing March 30, 2005 payout.
• usamega.com Powerball Jackpot Analysis
• Ed Stanek's contribution

External links

• Official Powerball site
• MUSL/Powerball history page