Powerball lottery players in Missouri and Texas to split estimated $1.8 billion jackpot

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

Updated 11:47 PM CDT, September 6, 2025

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Powerball players in Missouri and Texas won the estimated $1.8 billion jackpot on Saturday, overcoming astronomical odds to end the lottery game’s three-month drought without a big winner.

The winning numbers were 11, 23, 44, 61, and 62, with the Powerball number being 17.

The prize, which was the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot in history, followed 41 consecutive drawings in which no one matched all six numbers. The last drawing with a jackpot winner happened May 31.

Powerball’s terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes growing as they roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes. There are three drawings each week.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198

[RandiFan1290]

1. 61 62

Are they still using the machine with the balls to select these numbers or are they using the 'computer generated' numbers?

I've noticed this happening frequently with the Powerball winning numbers.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Once one number is picked, there are 2 chances to pick a number on either side.

So there is an enhanced probability of consecutive numbers.

[RandiFan1290]

3. Thank you for the reply!

I only check out the numbers when the jackpot gets really large and I've noticed it a lot more.

[wolfie001]

4. I wonder how many tens of millions emptied out their meager checking and savings accts.

Now they're that much poorer. Oh well.

[Bengus81]

14. None would be my guess. Tickets are $2.00,some might have bought 3 or 4.

[TurboDem]

5. I won the powerball!!!

Oh wait. I only matched the powerball number so I only get $4.

[tonekat]

8. Same Here! Woo Hoo!

So much for my fantasy of buying my way into Canada.

[mdbl]

10. I didn't even get that!

I have no luck

[LeftInTX]

6. Marble Falls doesn't live too far from Fredericksburg. Just sayin....

[GreenWave]

7. My pals Steve from Missouri and Steve from Texas, if you sre victorious...

pals-o-mine.

[AllaN01Bear]

9. dang nabbit jim kirk. i dont have enough fingers t o count that high.

[Marthe48]

11. Maybe the winners will help the farmers

n/t

[rubbersole]

12. For my 40th birthday (33 years ago)..

..my mother bought 40 single lottery tickets and taped them to a present 🎁 box containing a shirt. None of them paid. Which brought on one of her memorable quotes - "The lottery is a tax on stupid people."
I obviously didn't listen - buying $10 worth twice last week. Matched a total of 4 numbers from both tickets. Pretty stupid. State sponsored hope.

[Aussie105]

13. Congratulations to the winners!

May that money buy nothing but bliss and happiness.

On the Dark Side:
Lotteries are a disease. For every winner, there are thousands if not millions of financially desperate and disappointed people.

Lotteries - their success is an indicator of how desperate people are.

(I'm well off. Never felt the need to buy a lottery ticket or do any form of gambling. Fed the pokies once to see the attraction. Got bored quick.)

[Bengus81]

15. A disease?? LOL...sounds like what all the preachers were saying when it came to Kansas in 1987

People don't go BK playing the lottery or lose their homes. They play and then they don't play. I've played off and on for almost 40 years and I'm not broke, nor have I lost my home or became a multi-millionaire.

The stock market is gambling,going to a movie is gambling, going to a new restaurant is a gamble.

[maxsolomon]

16. I can't think of 2 less deserving states.

Hopefully the winners use the jackpot for good and not evil.