History could be made this week if one Aussie takes home Thursday’s entire $80 million jackpot.
While Australian lotteries date back more than a century and jackpot prizes have soared past $100 million, no Australian player has ever taken home an $80 million lottery windfall.
Should someone be successful tomorrow night, in addition to pocketing the $80 million prize they would also secure the title of Australia’s third-biggest individual lottery winner.
The Lott spokesperson Ally Ramsamy said tomorrow night’s $80 million prize was the third-biggest Powerball jackpot to have been offered so far this year.
“Powerball has only offered an $80 million division one prize four times in its 23-year history,” she said.
“In fact, Powerball soared to $80 million in July 2009, August 2018, January 2019 and July 2019.
“Despite skyrocketing to $80 million four times previously, an $80 million Powerball prize has only been won once. This was in July 2009, when it was shared by two division one winners who each took home $40 million. On the other three occasions, the $80 million prize wasn’t won, so the jackpot climbed higher.
“If one single winner takes home the entire $80 million jackpot tomorrow night, it will be the only $80 million division one prize ever won since Australian lotteries began more than a century ago.”
“With $80 million up for grabs, Ms Ramsamy said up to one-in-three Australian adults were expected to have an entry in tomorrow night’s draw.
“I’m sure some players have already started imagining what the rest of their year would look like if they became an overnight multi-millionaire,” she said.
“If you win that division one prize tomorrow night you would be able to do all the things you have always dreamt of.
“Perhaps that means moving to France, purchasing a Chanel handbag you’ve been eyeing off, or quitting your job and setting up your own charity.
“A past Sydney Powerball winner told us he was going to quit his office job, open a community kitchen and help feed those in need.
“If your bank account balloons by an extra $80 million, it’s fair to say you’d truly be free to play by your own rules.”
Ms Ramsamy said her best advice for anyone keen for a chance to win Powerball’s $80 million prize was to grab an entry early.
“If the recent big jackpots are anything to go by, we know that it just gets busier and busier instore and online in the hours and minutes leading up to the draw close, so make sure you get in early” she said.
“Also remember to register your entries, as we will be standing by tomorrow night ready to break that news to any division one winner.
“With $80 million on offer, I am sure that’s a phone call you’re going to want to answer!”
Powerball draw 1216 closes at 7:30pm AEST on Thursday 5 September 2019.
Tickets can be purchased at any licensed lottery outlet, online from thelott.com or via the Lott mobile app.
The Lott’s division one winning tally across all Australian lottery games has now reached 251 so far this calendar year.
In the 12 months to 30 June 2019, 10 Powerball division one winners across Australia pocketed more than $398.5 million in prize money.
During this time, the biggest individual Powerball prize was $107,575,649.08, which was won by a Sydney healthcare worker on 17 January 2019. Her windfall set a new record for Australia’s biggest individual lottery winner.
Victoria and New South Wales each enjoyed three division one wins, while Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania each scored one.