STAFF REPORT
Due to a need for additional time to finish “required pre-draw procedures,” one of the lottery’s jurisdictions has postponed this Saturday’s $1.3 billion Powerball jackpot drawing, according to lottery officials.
On Saturday night, the drawing was supposed to happen at 11 p.m. EST.
The release from Powerball stated: “Tonight, we have one participating lottery that needs additional time to complete required pre-draw procedures, which have been enacted to protect the security and integrity of the Powerball game.”
It further reported: “Powerball game rules require that every single ticket sold nationwide be checked and verified against two different computer systems before the winning numbers are drawn. This is done to ensure that every ticket sold for the Powerball drawing has been accounted for and has an equal chance to win. Tonight, we have one jurisdiction that needs extra time to complete that pre-draw process.”
In addition, Powerball advised participants to save their tickets for Saturday’s drawing since it would take place when the necessary pre-draw processes are finished.
Due to a problem with ticket verification in one of its jurisdictions, Powerball stated at approximately one in the morning EST on Sunday that the drawing scheduled for Saturday was still postponed. They expressed their hope to finish the drawing “as soon as possible.”
“Please note that these required pre-draw procedures are completed by every participating lottery prior to every Powerball drawing, and the time it takes to complete this process varies each night,” the revised statement stated.
Further quoted: “While a delay to tonight’s Powerball drawing is unfortunate, it means participating lotteries are following the game rules enacted to protect the integrity of the game. Every single ticket bought for Saturday’s Powerball drawing will be accounted for before the winning numbers are drawn.”
The jurisdiction for which ticket verification took longer than expected, as well as the reason for the delay have not been made public.
In addition, a $608.9 million cash option is available for the drawing on Saturday, rather than the greater amount being paid out in 30 installments spread over 29 years.
It is not unusual for a Powerball drawing to be delayed. An $1.9 billion jackpot drawing in 2022 was postponed until the following morning due to technical difficulties with a participating lottery’s sales and play data processing.
In addition to Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 45 states play Powerball. At 10:59 p.m. EST on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee normally conducts drawings.