Millions tried, but nobody succeeded in matching all six numbers for Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing. Iowa Lottery officials estimate the jackpot for this weekend’s drawing will grow into near-record territory, sparking a frenzy of ticket-buying.
Lottery spokeswoman Tina Potthoff says, "The estimated jackpot for Saturday has grown to 300-million dollars which would be the fourth-largest Powerball prize ever awarded in the game." She says it’s been a year-and-a-half since the jackpot got this big and the last time, the prize set a new record.
Potthoff says, "Three-hundred-sixty-five million dollars was won by a group of workers at a meatpacking plant in Nebraska back in February of 2006." She expects Powerball ticket sales to spike at outlets across Iowa and nationwide, especially on Saturday.
Potthoff says, "I anticipate a little bit of Powerball mania to hit crowds and to hit stores. It appears jackpots have to grow to a significant level now for many people to start playing the game. I really think this is going to hit a note with a lot of people and stores will be busy and Powerball terminals will be pouring out tickets." The Des Moines-based game is played in 29 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.