Lotto is a form of gambling in which numbers are drawn to determine winners. Prizes may range from a fixed amount of cash to goods or services. Lotteries are commonly used by governments to raise revenue without raising taxes. Prizes may also be awarded by private businesses, such as restaurants or retail stores, to promote their products or services. Regardless of the prize structure, most lotteries offer a higher chance of winning for those who play more frequently.
The first recorded lotteries occurred during the Chinese Han dynasty between 205 and 187 BC. The lottery was a popular method for funding large government projects, such as the Great Wall of China. In modern times, many countries have national and local lotteries. Some lotteries are run by state or provincial organizations, while others are run by independent companies. Regardless of the type of lottery, most modern lotteries require players to buy tickets and submit them in a drawing to win prizes.
In addition to providing an opportunity for people to win big sums of money, lotteries also provide a means for individuals to experience entertainment and a chance to dream about their future. Moreover, many people are attracted to the lottery because they believe that winning a large jackpot will change their lives. Nevertheless, the purchase of a lottery ticket can be a poor investment decision for some individuals. This is because the disutility of a monetary loss is outweighed by the utility of non-monetary benefits, such as the entertainment value of the lottery.
Lottery tickets can be purchased through authorized retailers, the Lottery mobile app and at online. Lottery retailers must validate each ticket through a lottery sales terminal before a customer can claim a prize. Lottery retailers are not responsible for lost, stolen or illegible tickets. In addition, the Lottery does not accept tickets that have been damaged, altered in any way or that fail to pass a security test.
POWERBALL is a lottery game that offers a top prize of $50 million for matching all five white and one red number in a drawing. Like Mega Millions, POWERBALL costs $2 per play and draws two times a week, on Wednesday and Saturday evening. Players can select up to five white numbers from one to 69 and one red number from one to 26 or opt for the Quick Pick option, which allows the computer to randomly choose their numbers. The results of each drawing are displayed on TV, published in newspapers and posted on the POWERBALL Results page after the draws take place.
The POWERBALL draw is broadcast nationally on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings at approximately 7:05pm ET. Tickets can be viewed on this website, the Lottery mobile app for iOS and Android devices, at authorized Lottery retailers or by calling (850) 921-PLAY. In addition, POWERBALL results are available on television shortly after the drawings and can be accessed at any time through our Daily Drawings page.
