For Immediate Release:                                         Contact:  (518) 388-3415

February 2, 2015                                                                       Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- The New York Lottery today announced the jackpot for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing has been increased to $317,000,000. The $31,200,000 jump from Saturday’s jackpot is due to brisk sales across all 44 participating Powerball states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Saturday’s Powerball jackpot was $285,800,000 and produced over 88,000 winning tickets in New York State. The largest was a $1,000,000 second prize sold in Westchester County at 7 Days Gas & Food Mart, 400 Pelham Road in New Rochelle. There were also one $10,000 winner. With Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot now at $317,000,000, New York will see even more winners across the state.

Lottery players are reminded to ask their Lottery retailers for the Power Play feature where for just an extra dollar, their prize can multiply by two, three, four, or five times.

If no one matches all five numbers plus the Powerball in Wednesday’s drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow. Tickets for Wednesday’s Powerball drawing can be purchased until 9:00 p.m. EST.

 The largest Powerball jackpot to date was $590.5 million, won in Florida in May 2013.

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. 

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