We’re closer than ever to setting a new record for the largest jackpot in Powerball history. The jackpot for Saturday’s drawing has been boosted. A single winner could claim the jackpot as a $550 million annuity or a one-time cash payment of $350.1 million. The largest Powerball jackpot ever was the $587.5 million annuity on the line in the Nov. 28 drawing.
The announcement of the increase comes on the heels of Wednesday’s drawing, where three more lucky tickets won big prizes. For the third time this week, a North Carolina ticket was just one Powerball away from hitting the jackpot. That $1 million-winning ticket was sold at the Oakhill Deli & Grill on Oakdale Road in Charlotte. Two more tickets won $10,000 on Wednesday night. Those tickets were sold at Handy Mart #69 on N.C. 55 in Alliance (Pamlico County) and at Circle B #7 on North Main Street in Holly Springs (Wake County).
One of two $1 million prizes won in Saturday’s drawing was claimed by Paula Lampkins, a hospital housekeeper from Winston-Salem. The other prize, won by a ticket sold at the Ingles Market on New Leicester Highway in Asheville, has yet to be claimed. Two tickets won $10,000 in the drawing. They were sold at Sam’s Mart #7 on Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte and Lowe’s Foods #199 on Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington. North Carolina Powerball players have won more than $6.5 million in total prizes during the 13-drawing jackpot run, which started on April 3.
Since Powerball started here in 2006, three North Carolina players have won the jackpot. Jackie Alston of Halifax won $74.5 million in November 2006, Jeff Wilson of Kings Mountain won $88.1 million in June 2009 and Frank Griffin of Asheville won $141.4 million in February 2010.
We will be watching with all of our North Carolina players on Saturday night to see if our state – or the Powerball jackpot – makes history again. Good luck to everyone!
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