Va. expects jackpot to boost Powerball sales

Published August 14, 2012 1:51pm ET



RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Lottery expects to sell more than a million Powerball tickets to players hoping to win a huge jackpot.

The jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing is an estimated $305 million.

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 full amount in 30 annual payments or a one-time cash option of about $203.3 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.