The prize is now the second-largest lottery jackpot of the year so far, as Powerball’s recent U.K. expansion adds ticket sales that officials say could accelerate jackpot growth.
Powerball’s jackpot rose to $663 million after no ticket matched all six numbers in Wednesday night’s drawing, making it the second-biggest lottery prize of the year so far behind the current Mega Millions jackpot. The next Powerball drawing is scheduled for Wednesday night, while Mega Millions is set to hold a Tuesday drawing for an $800 million jackpot. Powerball’s recent expansion to the U.K. is expected by officials to produce faster-growing jackpots through additional ticket sales, though British winners are not offered a lump-sum option and can only receive the prize in 30 annual payments. The advertised jackpot for U.K. players is £352 million, or about $467.8 million, reflecting the estimated 30-year payout after exchange rates and U.K. tax requirements. The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot remain 1 in 292.2 million despite the broader player pool, compared with 1 in 290.4 million for Mega Millions. Among prizes already claimed this year, the largest is a $533 million Mega Millions jackpot won by an Illinois ticket buyer in March, while the biggest completed Powerball jackpot of 2024 so far is a $250.8 million prize won in Arkansas.