Powerball jackpot grows to an estimated $1.8 billion for Saturday night’s drawing

The Powerball jackpot is now a whopping $1.8 billion for Saturday’s drawing, after yet another drawing passed without a big winner on Wednesday.

The cash value is now up to $826.4 million, according to Powrerball.

The numbers selected on Wednesday were: 3, 16, 29, 61 and 69, with the Powerball number being 22.

The jackpot remains untouched, however, nationwide 11 tickets matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes.

Of $1 million-winning tickets two were sold in California, one in Colorado, one in Florida, two in Georgia, one in Illinois, one in Maryland, one in Minnesota, one in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania.

There were also 117 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 36 tickets that won $100,000 prizes.

Since May 31, there have been 41 straight drawings without a big winner.

The next drawing will be Saturday night, with the prize expected to be the third-largest in U.S. lottery history.

Powerball’s terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly 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.

Powerball tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Associated Press contributed to this post.