For Immediate Release:                                       Contact:  Communications Office

May 16, 2013                                                          (518) 388-3415

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SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The jackpot for Saturday’s Powerball drawing now stands at $550 million, a $75 million increase from Thursday’s earlier advertised jackpot. The jackpot increase reflects very strong sales across all 43 participating states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of now Saturday’s drawing would be the second highest jackpot in Powerball history.

If no one matches all five numbers plus the Powerball in Saturday’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow. The largest jackpot in Powerball history was drawn on November 28, 2012. Two winning tickets for that $587.5 million jackpot were sold in Missouri and Arizona.

Tickets for Saturday’s Powerball drawing can be purchased until 9 p.m. EST.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.04 billion in fiscal year 2012-2013 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.

About the New York State Gaming Commission

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at race tracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.