Powerball jackpot climbs to $349 million

February 17, 2017 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:25 AM

The largest Powerball jackpot in three months is up for grabs Saturday.

The Feb. 18 estimated jackpot is a life-changing $349 million, with a $213.1 million cash value lump sum.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. But there are eight other ways to win, with prizes ranging from $4 to $1 million.

We’ve heard stories of people using past addresses, a childhood sweetheart’s phone number, and family birthdates to pick their numbers. If that’s not your style, you can always choose to Quick Pick it.

You can also buy a $3 Powerball with Power Play ticket, which gives players the chance of multiplying their prize by 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. This means that a $1 million win could be doubled to $2 million, or that $100 win could be multiplied to $500.

But, spending an extra $1 to add Power Play could land you more than a Powerball jackpot.

With the Powerball Power Cruise Second Chance Promotion, 52 North Carolina Powerball players and their guest will win a five-night adventure of a lifetime aboard the Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas® to Key West and Cozumel.

The first of six drawings is coming up, so enter your tickets into Lucke-Rewards by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19 for a chance to score a room on the #PBPowerCruise.

Remember, if you can't make it to the store, you can play Powerball right here through subscription services.

Good luck to everyone, and happy Power Playing!

28 COMMENTS

2/22/2017 11:20 - Charlene W.

Bought 2 tics won ZERO

2/22/2017 10:16 - Sandra J.

Who determines if winners have to reveal their identity? I think it should be by choice. It's really dangerous for everyone to know that you've just won a big jackpot.NC Lottery
It's a state law, not a lottery policy. All but a few states allow winners of lottery prizes to claim anonymously.

2/21/2017 10:14 - Charlene W.

After spending money on several $10 and up scratch offs not to win a thing,I believe luck is better if not the same on mega mill, powerball and cash five and cheaper, instead of losing $10,$20 and $30 you spend 4-8 quarters,I gave up the obsolete winnings in scratch offs.

2/21/2017 10:01 - Chenita B.

I am not a greedy person. I have never been. My whole life I've spent giving to others, mostly strangers. I play the same numbers for every drawing and have never come close. I can't even get a $3,500.00 loan. I hope that whoever wins is truly deserving. Good luck all.

2/21/2017 06:44 - ron s.

I think sellers should not be able to win on the tickets they sell in their stores.

2/21/2017 04:47 - michael e.

I wont be playing in this Wednesdays drawing I dont care to get into this drawing it dosent matter at all to me its just money i don't need money.

2/20/2017 05:57 - cathy l.

I don't read the blogs often, but when I do,I find them very interesting and entertaining sometimes. I love to see people win!!

2/20/2017 09:11 - Denver G.

@ BMFB1980, I must disagree with you. For each 1,2,5,10 dollar ticket you will get 1,2,5 or 10 entries. Just check your ticket entry history and you will see this to be true.

2/20/2017 09:08 - Mike S.

NCTEACH - Don't divulge your data or methodology. If you do NCEL will find a way to prevent access to the data. You'll then have to send a request to playerinfo which the responses will be less than helpful.

2/20/2017 08:55 - Denver G.

@ BMFB1980, The new X the cash 2nd drawing entries are the same as the Holiday ones. $1=1 entry, $2=2 entries, $5=5 entries and $10 entries. Just check your ticket entry history and you will see that to be true !!!!!! That is why there was over 6 million entries in the Holiday contest. I'm sure there will be well over a million in each of X the cash drawings.

2/19/2017 11:33 - John R.

Ok I have a serious complaint for the 2nd chance "x the cash" games. It's mis-managed and you are CHEATING players who purchase the larger value tickets. If I buy a $10 ticket, I get ONE entry. Same as if I buy a $5 ticket or a $1 ticket. That is grossly unfair to players who buy higher value tickets. Unless you have SEPARATE 2nd chance drawings for each tier, which you don't mention, then you are cheating players. Grossly unfair and even deceptive you don't clarify this anywhere. Someone should be de-moted. NC Lottery
As TURBO explains below, you will see that a $1 ticket gets you 1 entry, a $10 ticket gets you 10 entries. Thanks for providing accurate info, TURBO.

2/18/2017 10:58 - Robin M.

Interesting that I downloaded ALL the winning data from when the Cash 5 and Powerball and ran a statistical analysis only to discover that a startling 37% of all winners of these two games live within 75 miles of Raleigh and 73% of the winners are east of Charlotte. Quite interesting results wouldn't you think? NC Lottery
The blog moderators are interested to know where you got "ALL" the winning data for Cash 5 and Powerball winners in North Carolina and what your methodology was for analysis. But we can assure you that if you were to move somewhere within the 75 mile radius of Raleigh you would still have the same chance of winning a prize playing Cash 5 or Powerball. You would just live near more people who are taking a chance to win playing the lottery.

2/18/2017 08:23 - michael e.

I have really learned my lesson this is the last time I will ever buy a power play ticket again. Its just now worth the heart ache 7 misery of not winning anything so maybe just maybe someone else from NC will win I hope ...

2/18/2017 02:48 - HITESHKUMAR S.

Every body take chance to win

2/18/2017 12:57 - Charlene W.

Of course I did not win ,I'm not surprised

2/18/2017 12:09 - David W.

Does anyone notice how there have been fewer winner updates on LuckeZone in the last two months? It's probably because there are no winners anywhere! Cha-ching!! NCEL Revenue month, right?NC Lottery
Don't worry, we're working on this week's big winner wrap-up blog right now :-)

2/18/2017 11:58 - Galen M.

Fate and luck

2/18/2017 10:47 - Jessica B.

I am like everyone else, I sure hope I win! I can just imagine all the good I can do with over 200 million dollars! And not just for myself. 200 million is more than enough to change a lot of peoples lives!

2/18/2017 10:41 - Yvonne G.

I've been on this cruise before and it was great but maybe winning some Power Ball money to take on the cruise would be even better!

2/18/2017 10:05 - RUFUS D.

How do I use my reward points to buy tickets? NC Lottery
YCurrent options are shown on the Drawings page, along with the number of points per entry.https://drawings.lucke-zone.com/drawing/landing.php Click the "Enter Drawing" button for the drawing you would like to enter. Then select the number of entries you would like and click "Submit Entries." Review your request and click "Submit Entry." You will see a confirmation page and also receive an email confirmation. You can request as many drawing entries as you want, provided you have enough points.

2/18/2017 09:59 - Dawn R.

Please tell me how do the winners get picked for the second drawings?NC Lottery
Sure. They are held using a random number generator according to specific security procedures. To ensure fairness to all players, all lottery drawings are done with an auditor present. The more entries you make into a drawing, the more chances you have to win. But having even just one entry in a drawing gives you a chance to win.

2/18/2017 08:26 - Kim S.

I hope to god I win

2/18/2017 08:21 - Elsie S.

No luck at winning a jackpot maybe there is hope for me with the five-night adventure on the Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas to the Key West and Cozumel. LOL But luck is luck good luck to all my Powerball mates but I still hope to win one day.

2/17/2017 10:43 - charles m.

Scratch off tickets are losing Tickets, because its tax time Dont spend big on scratch tickets

2/17/2017 09:57 - Angela C.

I love second chances ????

2/17/2017 06:11 - Anthony B.

Thank you for explaining how entries are determined. My membership acct contains my personal info, name, player name, phone and address, etc. How are my entries connected to all that info or do I have a membership account "number"?. If so can you email my membership info that is used to correspond to my entries please?NC Lottery
When you make an entry into a drawing, that entry is assigned a unique number. When it is time to conduct a drawing, all of the entry numbers are automatically loaded into a separate file that has no information connecting it to a particular membership account. Then the random number generator is instructed to randomly select from the total range of entry numbers a certain amount of winning entries. Then, after the fact, which membership account is tied to the winning entries can be determined.

2/17/2017 05:48 - Linwood M.

I'M learning to play 2nd chance so wish me luck. NC Lottery
Thanks for taking a second chance. Good luck.

2/17/2017 05:41 - Gregory F.

I'm in need of blessing from GOD in hertford co in Ahoskie nc

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Powerball jackpot climbs to $349 million

February 17, 2017 Posted by NC Lottery at 11:25 AM

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