Oregonian: With the Powerball jackpot hitting at least $500 million — a new record — ticket sales for today’s drawing have soared in Oregon and around the country.
Oregonian: With the Powerball jackpot hitting at least $500 million — a new record — ticket sales for today’s drawing have soared in Oregon and around the country.
In Portland, lines formed at convenience stores, taverns and other lottery outlets as people who don’t ordinarily do so forked out money on a fantasy of getting mega-rich mega-quick. In a single hour between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, the state sold nearly $139,000 worth of tickets.
Since this jackpot run began Oct. 6, Oregon players have spent $9.2 million on tickets. Powerball is one of many games Oregon offers, and the reason the jackpot gets so high is that 43 other states and territories offer it as well. Half the money spent on tickets goes into the prize pool, the other half to the states.
Sales today are expected be much brisker, which could push the jackpot even higher. The winning numbers will be drawn at 7:59 p.m., and the deadline to buy tickets is 7 p.m.
