Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Powerball jackpot is quickly approaching unprecedented heights as the New Hampshire Lottery projects Saturday’s jackpot will reach $1.5 billion, which would be the third-largest lottery jackpot in history. The New Hampshire Lottery expects the one-time cash payout to reach $745.9 million. (Estimated jackpot amounts are determined before taxes are withheld.) 

Saturday’s projected $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot would mark just the third time in U.S. lottery history that a jackpot had reached the $1.5 billion mark. In January 2016, the Powerball jackpot reached $1.586 billion and the Mega Millions jackpot reached $1.537 billion in October 2018. Saturday’s drawing would be the 40th Powerball drawing since the last jackpot was won on August 3 in Pennsylvania, when a lucky player purchased a $206.9 million winning ticket. 

“One-point-five-billion-dollars! Can you believe it? It is difficult to describe the level of excitement and anticipation as this jackpot continues to skyrocket toward a near-record high—it’s palpable. You can feel it in the air—everyone is talking about Powerball!” said Charlie McIntyre, Executive Director, New Hampshire Lottery. “We have already had more than $3.6 million in Powerball sales so far this week between our retailers and NH iLottery and we do not expect that momentum to slow down. We are projecting more than $6.5 million in total Powerball sales this week. We are all hoping for a big $1.5 billion New Hampshire winner come Saturday!” 

Powerball drawing results from Wednesday, November 2, were: 02-11-22-35-60 PB-23 with a Power Play of 2. 

The top-10 jackpots in U.S. lottery history are:

  1.  $1.586 billion, Powerball, January 13, 2016
  2.  $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, October 23, 2018
  3.  $1.5 billion, Powerball, November 5, 2022 (anticipated)
  4.  $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022
  5.  $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, January 22, 2021
  6.  $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019
  7.  $758.7 million, Powerball, August 23, 2017
  8.  $731.1 million, Powerball, January 20, 2021
  9.  $699.8 million, Powerball, October 4, 2021
  10. $687.8 million, Powerball, October 27, 2018

“While we are certainly caught up in the excitement of this huge jackpot, we are also constantly reminding our players to play responsibly,” McIntyre added. “It only takes one to win!” 

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

Tickets are on sale at more than 1,200 retailers statewide, and online at NH iLottery. For more information and to play, visit www.nhlottery.com.