2nd Largest Powerball Jackpot In History Up For Grabs Saturday

CONCORD, NH — Due to no winner since early August, and three drawings a week, Powerball has reached its second-highest jackpot in the game’s history.

The jackpot on Saturday is expected to be $825 million, which, if won, will also be the fifth-highest lottery jackpot overall, officials said. The one-time cash payout, before taxes, is expected to be more than $384 million.

“With over three-quarters-of-a-billion-dollars on the line, the excitement and anticipation are off the charts for our players and retailers,” Charlie McIntyre, the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery, said. “I would like nothing more than to award a New Hampshire player this incredible, life-changing prize. A fleet of superyachts, maybe a private island or two, the house of your dreams on every continent, the possibilities are endless when it comes to this $800 million prize.”

Retailers around the state as well as the NH iLottery website, are experiencing “strong sales, and we would expect that trend to continue right up to the drawing Saturday night,” he added.

The previous four highest jackpots were a $1.586 billion Powerball on Jan. 13, 2016; a $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot on Oct. 23, 2018; a $1.337 billion Mega Millions on July 29, 2022; and $1.05 billion Mega Millions Jan. 22, 2021.

“While we are extremely excited about this growing Powerball jackpot, we also want to take the opportunity to remind our players to play responsibly,” McIntyre said. “You do have to play to win, but it only takes one to win.”

New Hampshire has had close to a dozen jackpot lottery winners, most before 2007, but three big ones during the past six years.

In July 2016, a $487 million Powerball ticket was sold in Raymond. In January 2018, a $559.7 million ticket was sold in Merrimack, which led to a legal fight after the winner signed her ticket but decided she wanted to remain anonymous later. A Mega Millions winner in Exeter purchased a $168 million winning ticket in July 2019.

Powerball drawings are held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at more than 1,200 retailers statewide and online at NH iLottery.

For more information and to play, visit nhlottery.com.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube.com channel or Rumble.com channel.