Check out the luckiest states in the lottery
USA TODAY’s Fernando Cervantes takes a look at the states with the most Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots.
One very lucky person has defied the odds and won the Powerball jackpot.
According to the Powerball website, after the drawing on Monday, March 2nd, one lucky person in Arkansas purchased a winning lottery ticket in which the Powerball matched all five numbers drawn and won the $251 million grand prize.
Once winners receive their prize, they can choose to receive an annuitized payment or a lump sum of $118 million. At this time, no one has won the jackpot.
Lottery officials say the Powerball jackpot has been won nearly 200 times since the game began in 1992. Currently in Puerto Rico, Washington DC,The U.S. Virgin Islands will participate in the lottery, but five states will decline: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.
However, some states have had better luck than others. Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are among the top five states with the most Powerball winners, USA TODAY previously reported.
Here’s what you need to know about winning Powerball.
What are the winning Powerball numbers for March 2nd?
The winning numbers for the March 2nd Powerball drawing are: 2, 17, 18, 38, 62, and the powerball 20. The multiplier for “power play” is 2x.
Has anyone won the Powerball jackpot?
Yes, one lucky person from Arkansas won the Powerball jackpot and another lucky person from Puerto Rico won the Match 5 + Power Play prize of $2 million.
The Powerball jackpot was then reset to $20 million ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing.
When is the next Powerball drawing?
The next drawing will be held on Wednesday, March 4th at 11:00 PM ET.
Do I have to be a US citizen or resident to play Powerball?
The short answer is no. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident to play Powerball.
Anyone visiting any of the 45 participating states, as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, can purchase a Powerball ticket regardless of nationality. The only catch is that you must meet legal age requirements at the time of purchase (usually 18 years old) and you must purchase your ticket from an authorized retailer.
Top 10 Powerball Jackpots
- $2.04 billion in California on November 7, 2022
- December 24, 2025, $1.817 billion in Arkansas.
- $1.787 billion in Missouri and Texas on September 6, 2025
- $1.765 billion in California on October 11, 2023
- January 13, 2016, $1.586 billion in California, Florida, and Tennessee
- April 6, 2024, $1.326 billion in Oregon.
- $1.08 billion in California on July 19, 2023
- January 1, 2024, $842.4 million in Michigan.
- March 27, 2019, $768.4 million in Wisconsin
- August 23, 2017, $758.7 million in Massachusetts
How to play Powerball
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play. Available at most convenience stores, gas stations, and grocery stores. In some states, tickets can also be purchased online depending on local regulations.
Once you have your ticket, choose 6 numbers. Five are white balls numbered 1-69 and the sixth is a red Powerball numbered 1-26.
For an additional $1, players can add a power play. This increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. Multipliers increase your winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and even 10x.
Don’t want to pick the numbers yourself? The (Quick Pick) option lets the computer do it for you.
To win the jackpot, you must match all five white balls (in any order) and all red Powerballs.
Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday nights. If no one hits the jackpot, the prize money continues to roll and rise.
Julia Gomez is USA TODAY’s trends reporter, covering popular toys, scientific research, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn ×Instagram, TikTok: @juliamariegz or email jgomez@gannett.com..
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact us at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow us at X @fern_cerv_.
