A Powerball ticket purchased in Washington State has turned into a small fortune for one fortunate player, who won a $50,000 prize in the most recent drawing. Even though the player did not win the grand prize of $483 million, their ticket was only one number shy of taking home the enormous jackpot.
The winning ticket, as reported by Washington’s Lottery officials, matched four of the five white balls and the red Powerball drawn on March 27. The winning numbers for the draw were 5, 20, 29, 39, and 53, and the Powerball number was 6. Four of the five numbers and the Powerball are worth a $50,000 payout under the present prize structure.
The $483 million jackpot went unclaimed, so it will roll over once more, boosting the jackpot leading up to the next scheduled drawing. That jackpot, one of the largest in recent history, has kept on growing during weeks of play without a winner, generating excitement and interest nationwide.
Not the jackpot, per se, winning $50 million is life-changing for most participants. Previous $50,000 winners have gone on to eliminate debt, build businesses, travel on long-planned vacations, invest in homeownership, and invest in retirement plans. For whoever bought the secret Washington ticket, the world becomes their oyster.
Washington’s Lottery encouraged players to double-check their tickets, saying it’s not unusual for prizes to go unredeemed, especially those less than the jackpot or million-dollar level. Winners are urged by them to sign the back of their ticket as soon as possible and to get in touch with lottery officials to start the prize redemption process. Every state has a varying period of claim, and in Washington, players are usually given 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize.
This victory follows a pattern of mid-level prizes being won in Washington, which has experienced a number of high-priced wins in recent years, but the jackpot has not been won. Nevertheless, the Powerball still provides life-altering possibilities with each sold ticket, and with jackpots reaching into the hundreds of millions, the game is still a favorite among lottery players across the country.
Tickets are $2 to play, with Power Play available as an extra option for a further $1. The add-on option increases non-jackpot prizes, sometimes dramatically. In this instance, had the Washington winner taken the Power Play option and been awarded a good multiplier, the prize might have been awarded at $100,000 or more.
The following Powerball drawing will be held Monday night, and with the jackpot still unclaimed, players throughout the U.S. are anticipated to inundate convenience stores and gas stations hoping to become the latest on the list of winners. As ever, lottery officials remind players to play responsibly and to consider the game as a type of entertainment with the bonus excitement of possibly winning a big payday.
