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<p>MIDDLETOWN &#8211; Thanks to strong ticket sales, the Powerball jackpot today was increased again to a $500 million annuity value, or a $306 million cash prize, for tonight&#8217;s drawing. It is tied for the game&#8217;s third-largest advertised jackpot.</p><p>The jackpot had rolled to a $400 million annuity value, or $244 million cash prize, after the drawing on Saturday produced no jackpot winner. On Tuesday, it was increased to $450 million annuity value, or a $275.4 million cash prize, due to strong ticket sales.</p><p>As of 11 a.m. today, the Pennsylvania Lottery reported Powerball tickets were selling at a rate of nearly 4,200 per minute with the rate still increasing.</p><p>This jackpot has been rolling since the Nov. 4, 2015, drawing. Since then, in Pennsylvania alone, the game has produced one $2 million winner, two $1 million winners and 772,369 other winners of over $9.9 million in prizes.</p><p>Lottery retailers statewide are reporting brisk ticket sales. Tickets for the next Powerball drawing will be available until 9:59 p.m. this evening.</p><p>The Pennsylvania Lottery advises players to purchase their Powerball tickets early to avoid any last-minute rush and to always play responsibly.</p><p>How to play Powerball: Players pay $2 and select five white balls from the first set of 69 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 26 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball playslip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize.</p><p>Purchasing the $1 Power Play option allows a winner to increase lower-tier prizes by a factor of 2, 3, 4 or 5, depending on the Power Play number drawn. A 10X multiplier will be available for the Match 4+1 prize and lower prize tiers when the jackpot is at or below $150 million, or when announced. The jackpot and the Match 5 prize are not multiplied. The Match 5 prize with the Power Play option is worth $2 million. It is $1 million without Power Play.</p><p>Powerball is sold in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Pennsylvania, tickets are sold until 9:59 p.m. on drawing nights, Wednesday and Saturday.</p><style>
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Powerball jackpot boosted again to $500 million on brisk sales