The jackpot for tonight’s Powerball drawing is now $500,000,000. New York Lottery officials estimate the cash value of the jackpot will be $337.8 million before required withholdings. 

The largest Powerball jackpot in history - $590.5 million – was claimed by a player in Florida in May, 2013.

Tickets for tonight’s Powerball drawing can be purchased until 9:00 p.m. EST. The drawing will take place at 11 p.m. EST.

Powerball costs $2 a game to play.

To play Powerball, players choose five numbers from a field of 1 to 59 plus one Powerball number from a separate field of 1 to 35. If no one matches all six numbers drawn, the jackpot will roll even higher.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.17 billion in fiscal year 2013-2014 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts.

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education.  It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.