$320 Million Jackpot Expected to Boost Powerball Sales

The Virginia Lottery expects to sell more than a million Powerball tickets to players hoping to win a huge jackpot.

The estimated jackpot for Wednesday's drawing has jumped to $320 million as of Wednesday morning -- up from an estimated $305 million Tuesday night.

The Lottery said Tuesday that players are expected to buy Powerball tickets at a rate of 2,170 a minute at peak times Wednesday.

If someone's ticket matches all six numbers, they could either take the amount in 30 annual payments or a one-time cash option of about $213.3 million before taxes.

Virginia Pike of Berryville is the state's biggest Powerball winner since the game began in Virginia in January 2010. She bought two winning $1 million tickets for the April 7 drawing.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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