US Powerball jackpot climbs to US$455 million for Saturday drawing

The odds of winning the draw on March 17, 2018 are currently one in 292 million. PHOTO: REUTERS

FLORIDA (REUTERS) - An estimated US$455 million (S$600 million) Powerball jackpot is up for grabs on Saturday (March 17) evening, one of the biggest in the multi-state US lottery's history, after 19 straight drawings failed to produce a grand prize winner.

The odds of winning Saturday's drawing, to be held at 10.59pm ET (10.59am Sunday Singapore time), are currently one in 292 million.

A grand prize winner would have the choice of taking the US$455 million jackpot doled out over 29 years, or taking a one-time, lump-sum payment of US$269.4 million.

If no ticket matches the six numbers drawn in the lottery, the jackpot will roll over to the next drawing, on March 21.

The last Powerball drawing to produce a jackpot winner was on Jan 6, when a single ticket sold in New Hampshire won US$559.7 million.

The winner, who went under the name "Good Karma Family 2018", chose the lump-sum cash option of US$352 million.

Powerball's jackpot hit a record US$1.6 billion in January 2016, when three winning tickets were sold in Florida, California and Tennessee.

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