LANSING — The life of a Michigan Lottery player could improve quickly tonight if they win the $293 million Powerball jackpot. The cash option for the jackpot is about $185 million.
Powerball has been a lucrative game for Michigan Lottery players in 2016. Ten Michigan players have won the game’s $1 million prize.
The last Michigan player to win the Powerball jackpot was Julie Leach, of Three Rivers. Leach won the game’s $310.5 million jackpot on Sept. 30, 2015.
If a Michigan player win’s tonight’s $293 million jackpot, it would be the third-largest Powerball prize won in the state. On Aug. 15, 2012, Donald Lawson, of Lapeer, won a $337 million Powerball jackpot. Lawson’s jackpot holds the record for the largest Lottery prize ever won in Michigan.
Players still have plenty of time to purchase tickets for a chance to win the big jackpot. Players may buy Powerball tickets for tonight’s drawing at Lottery retailers throughout the state and online at MichiganLottery.com until 9:45 p.m.
Powerball plays may be purchased for $2 each at Lottery retailers across the state and online at MichiganLottery.com. A “Power Play” option that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to five times to a maximum of $2 million may be added to any Powerball play for only $1.
The Powerball drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. and may be watched live online at: http://www.powerballlive.com/powerball. Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, Washington D.C., U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
About 97 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets benefits the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers and vendors. Preliminary figures show the Lottery provided a record $888.9 million in the 2016 fiscal year to help support Michigan’s public schools. Since it began in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $20.5 billion to support public education. For additional information, follow the Michigan Lottery on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and online at www.michiganlottery.com.
