Powerball Jackpot at $20 Million

UNITED STATES – (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Powerball jackpot is on the rise once again! Even though the jackpot was not hit Saturday, a lucky player in Connecticut won a $1 million cash prize with Power Play. In total, 366,611 players across the nation won more than $4.3 million in prizes in America's Game.

Because no one correctly matched all six numbers in Saturday's drawing the jackpot will grow to an estimated $20 million.

The cash option for the Wednesday, December 21st drawing will be an estimated $9.7 million.

The numbers drawn were 24, 36, 44, 46, 53 and the Powerball was 18. The Power Play multiplier was 5.

Three players in Iowa, Kentucky, and South Carolina correctly matched the 5 white numbers and won $200,000. The player in Connecticut that won the $1 million not only matched the 5 white numbers, but also wisely purchased the Power Play option.

Thirteen players matched 4 white numbers plus the Powerball and won $10,000. Two additional winners of that prize category also purchased the Power Play option, multiplying their prize by 5 for a total win of $50,000.

More than 58,000 winning Powerball players multiplied their prize by 5 Saturday. They were able to do that by purchasing the Power Play option for one dollar. With Power Play you multiply your winnings from 2 to 5 times, except for the jackpot. At the beginning of each drawing a wheel is spun to select that night's multiplier.

Players should carefully check their tickets after every draw. Even if there are no jackpot winners there are always tens of thousands of winners at other prize levels.

Players purchased more than $15.3 million in tickets between Thursday and Saturday night.

The lotteries sold more than $2.0 billion in Powerball tickets in FY05. That translates into more than $600 million for worthwhile state projects.