For the second time in the past three months, one of the largest Powerball jackpots in history went to a ticket sold in California.
After a Los Angeles markets vended a ticket worth $1.6 billion, another market in Frazier Park, some 80 miles away, took claim to selling the ticket worth $1.76 billion – the second-largest Powerball jackpot in history.
However, as emphasized the the New York Lottery, the Empire State still awarded its fair share of winners during the run-up to the Oct. 11 jackpot drawing.
NY schools to receive over $66 million
A near-record Powerball jackpot unsurprisingly resulted in record sales for NY Lottery retailers.
The top prize – thanks to a ticket matching the numbers 22, 24, 40, 52, 64 and the Powerball 10 – went to a California ticket, a jackpot that is second only to the $2.04 billion winner in 2022 (also in California).
New York lottery players certainly made an effort to bring the jackpot back to the Empire State, which hasn’t been done since September 2020.
According to the NY Lottery, Powerball ticket sales came out to $189 million during the 36-drawing run dating back to July 22. As all lottery profits from sales go toward education, the state’s K-12 public schools receive $66.1 million. In addition, retailers earned $11.3 million on commissions.
“Every dollar spent playing the New York Lottery benefits New York’s schools and lottery retailers, many of which are small businesses,” Brian O’Dwyer, chair of the New York State Gaming Commission, said in a press release.
“While record-breaking jackpots rightfully generate excitement, the New York Lottery continues to provide both responsible entertainment for millions of players and a consistent revenue stream to better our state.”
Highlighting big NY Lottery winners during run
While California can (yet again) brag about a Powerball jackpot, New York had its own contingent of big winners.
As detailed by the NYSGC, New Yorkers claimed a number of prizes during the 36-drawing run toward the jackpot:
- One Powerplay second-prize winner of $2 million
- Seven $1 million second-prize winners
- Four Powerplay third-prize winners of $150,000
- Three Powerplay third-prize winners of $100,000
- 86 third-prize winners of $50,000
All told, 101 winners of at least $50,000 combined for $14.2 million. In the previous jackpot run, which spanned 39 drawings, New York boasted 84 winners of at least $50,000 who combined for $11.7 million in prizes.
