Salem, Oregon – A single Powerball ticket sold in Oregon has made headlines after matching all six numbers for the staggering $1.326 billion jackpot following a delay in Saturday night’s drawing due to “pre-draw procedures,” as confirmed by Powerball officials.
The winning numbers that led to this monumental jackpot were the white balls 22, 27, 44, 52, 69, and the red Powerball 9, with a cash value of $621 million. The Multi-State Lottery Association revealed that the drawing, initially scheduled for 10:59 p.m. ET, faced a delay as one participating lottery jurisdiction required additional time to complete pre-draw processes. The drawing eventually took place at 2:29 a.m. ET, marking a historic moment in Powerball history.
According to Powerball regulations, each ticket sold nationally undergoes rigorous verification against two computer systems before the winning numbers are drawn. The delay in the drawing was attributed to one jurisdiction needing extra time to complete this pre-draw process.
Saturday night’s drawing produced over 4.5 million winning tickets, including seven tickets that matched all five white balls, earning $1 million each. This success comes after 40 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner since New Year’s Day when a single ticket in Michigan claimed an $842.2 million prize.
The $1.3 billion jackpot, the fourth-largest in Powerball history and the eighth-largest in U.S. lottery history, has been accumulating due to the challenging odds of 1 in 292.2 million for winning the top prize. Winners have the option of receiving the prize through a 30-year annuity or a lump-sum cash payment of $621 million.
To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls and the red Powerball. Powerball tickets cost $2 each, with drawings held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays in 45 states across the U.S., as well as in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The excitement and anticipation surrounding Powerball draws continue to captivate players nationwide.