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A $429.6 million Powerball jackpot hit on Saturday night, and in years past that would have been big news.
But after that $1.6 billion record
We have jackpot fatigue. Almost like how an addict needs more and more of the drug to reach the same high.
Powerball officials say they used to notice a huge bump when the jackpot surpassed $100 million. A couple of years ago, surpassing that figure meant those who didn’t regularly play the game would start buying tickets.
Now the figure that triggers general public interest is more like $250 million, they say.
And think of this: Since the launch of a multistate lottery in 1987, Saturday’s $429.6 million jackpot is the seventh-highest of all time. But I’m still thinking, “Hey, too bad it didn’t get close to $1 billion.” Like $429 million isn’t an eye-popping number?
Also of note: This was the second Powerball jackpot since that $1.6 billion hit on Jan. 13, with James Stocklas of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, scoring $291 million on March 2 in between. (He bought the winning ticket in Marathon, Florida, while returning home from a fishing trip.)
Powerball then rolled over 18 times, until Saturday’s winning numbers of 5-25-26-44-66, with a Powerball of 9. The ticket was sold in Mercer County, New Jersey.
The Powerball jackpot now resets to $40 million for Wednesday’s drawing, and we do this all over again.
To hit a real jackpot on daily gambling news, go to SouthFloridaGambling.com or follow @NickSortal.
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