Just how much did Illinoisans spend trying to win the $2.04B Powerball jackpot?
Although the lucky winner of the historic $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot prize was from California, Illinois players participated in the lottery at extraordinary rates.
Illinois residents spent nearly $111 million on Powerball tickets during the jackpot roll, Director of the Illinois Lottery Harold Mays said in a Nov. 8 press release.
The Illinois Lottery is giving more than $44 million of the sales to Illinois’ Common School Fund, Mays continued. In fiscal year 2022, the Illinois Lottery contributed $834 million to the Common School Fund.
Powerball tickets cost $2, or $3 if you choose to add on the Power Play multiplier. Powerball wins also benefit retailers, as they receive a bonus worth 1% of the total prize.
“The Powerball run began on August 4, and in that time more than two million winning tickets have been sold and over $18 million in prizes have been won by Illinois players,” the Illinois Lottery statement said.
A Belleville player was among the 13 lucky Illinois lottery participants who won between $50,000 and $100,000 in the Powerball draw. The Circle K at 755 S. Belt W. in Belleville sold the ticket worth $50,000.
The winning numbers were 10, 33, 41, 47, 56 and Powerball 10. To win $50,000, 11 Illinois players matched four out of five numbers and the Powerball.
Two Illinois lottery players won $100,000, purchasing tickets from a 7-Eleven in Aurora and a Speedway in North Aurora. Two of the $50,000-winning tickets were purchased online through the Illinois Lottery site.
If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.
