NH Official: Powerball to Reach $500M Tonight

CONCORD, NH – With the New Hampshire Powerball jackpot projected to reach $500 million for tonight’s drawing, the New Hampshire Lottery has been asking its Facebook fans to list the top 10 things they would do if they won the Powerball jackpot.

Perhaps reflective of New Hampshire residents’ willingness to think of others first, a majority of players indicated their first priority, if they won, would be to help out friends and family and to support meaningful causes and charities. Along with helping others, many respondents wrote that they would buy a new home, pay off bills, buy a vacation home, buy a new car or take an extended vacation.

“With this now the fourth largest Powerball jackpot on record, it is a ton of fun to imagine what you would do with $500 million!” said Charlie McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery Commission in a press release. “It is wonderful to see so many prospective winners thinking of others first. Thankfully, with $500 million, the lucky winner would have plenty of money to take care of the people and causes they care about and take that extended vacation at any number of tropical destinations. Get your tickets now to get in on the fun and excitement! Here’s hoping for a big New Hampshire Powerball winner!”

The Powerball jackpot has been growing since Nov. 4, 2015, and sales and interest have spiked in a big way, particularly as the jackpot has grown from $300 million in the drawing on Dec. 28, 2015, to $500 million for tonight’s drawing. The $500 million jackpot is the sixth largest jackpot of any lottery game in U.S. history. The one-time cash payout is projected to increase to $306 million. (Estimated jackpot amounts are before taxes).

Here’s what other New Hampshire Lottery fans had to say:

The largest Powerball jackpot in history was $590.5 million, which was won on May 18, 2013, in Florida. Powerball tickets are on sale at more than 1,250 retailers in New Hampshire until 9:50 p.m. tonight. Powerball tickets cost $2 per play. Drawings are held Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11 p.m.