DENVER March 10 2010 The $170 million Powerball jackpot up for grabs in Wednesday nights drawing is the largest Lottery prize available worldwide. The jackpot is also the largest since an Orlando doctor won a $189 million Powerball jackpot in October 2009. If won the jackpot would be worth $81.8 million in cash.
Colorado has had one Powerball jackpot winner. The SEEP Financial Group claimed a $20 million jackpot in October 2007. The largest Powerball jackpot on record was a $365 million jackpot won in February 2006 by eight meatpackers from Nebraska.
We do start to see a spike in interest in Powerball when the jackpot gets to this level said Colorado Lottery Acting Director Tom Kitts. Winning $170 million would certainly afford someone a lot of financial freedom.
The last time the Powerball jackpot was hit was Feb. 6 when the top prize was $141.4 million. A retired firefighter from Asheville NC claimed that jackpot. The Powerball jackpot has grown at a faster rate since the organizations running Powerball and Mega Millions agreed to allow crossselling of both products in late January. Thirtyfour states now sell tickets for both games. Colorado will begin offering Mega Millions tickets in midMay.
Thirtyseven cents of every dollar spent on Powerball goes to support the Colorado Lotterys proceeds partners Great Outdoors Colorado the Conservation Trust Fund and Colorado State Parks. Through those partners the Lottery has provided funding for new trails expanded parks precious open space and wildlife protection. The Lottery has returned more than $2 billion to the state of Colorado over the last 26 years including $119.6 million in Fiscal Year 2009.