$100m Powerball draw: How you can grab a last-minute ticket for tonight's jackpot
With Thursday night’s $100 million Powerball mega draw looming, opportunities for your chance to win the life-changing jackpot are running out.
There are just a few hours before entries close at 7.30pm AEST, so to make sure you don’t miss out, here’s what you can do to avoid the crowds and queues.
The busiest times for people buying tickets in store are 1pm, 5pm and onwards from 6.30pm until the draw closes.
So, if you haven’t picked up a ticket already, you can dodge those lines by getting into a retailer before the last-minute crowds arrive.
Last week’s $80m Powerball jackpot saw nearly 4000 tickets bought at 4.52pm on the day of the draw from both online and in store buyers.
“In recent big jackpot draws we have seen an increase in Powerball players purchasing their tickets on the day of the draw,” The Lott spokesperson Ally Ramsamy said.
Where you can buy your Powerball ticket
Powerball tickets can be purchased from official outlets across Australia, with 4111 licensed lottery retailers around the country.
The draw will be televised on 7Two.
Can I buy my Powerball ticket online?
Yes, you can buy your Powerball ticket from the The Lott website or via the mobile app.
While less popular with older generations, playing online or via the app allows The Lott to immediately identify the winner.
Winners playing online and on the app will be contacted and those with paper tickets can scan them with the app or take them to their nearest outlet to see if they have won.
What kind of Powerball ticket can I buy?
You’ve got two options when buying a Powerball ticket: a QuickPick or marked entry.
The difference is that with a QuickPick, your numbers are randomly generated by a computer, while in a marked entry you can choose the numbers yourself.
If you want to spend more and increase your chances of winning you’ve got a few options.
A PowerHit entry will guarantee that you get the Powerball number and a System entry allows you to pick from eight to 20 numbers, which gives you a chance to win from more prize divisions.
With a PowerHit System entry, you are guaranteed the Powerball and are allowed to select between eight to 15 numbers from the main barrel, but it comes an extra cost.
A Pick entry will guarantee you either one or two winning numbers, while a PowerHit Pick 5 or PowerHit Pick 6 guarantees, at great expense, the Powerball as well as one or two winning numbers from the main barrel.
What are the luckiest Powerball numbers?
From the main barrel, where seven balls from 35 are drawn, the Lott revealed 17 is the hottest number having been drawn 23 times over the 16-month period.
It has been drawn three more times than its nearest rival, the number 2 ball.
For the all important Powerball number, drawn from 20 balls, the numbers 3, 13 and 19 have all been drawn seven times.
In the past 16 months, the number 12 has only been drawn seven times. The number 26 is next lowest with nine appearances.
For the Powerball, the number 1 has failed to appear at all while the number 18 just once.
If gambling is a problem for you go to Gambling Help Online or call 1800 858 858.
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