No one’s won Powerball’s jackpot in months. $685 million is up for grabs tonight

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Blank forms for the Powerball lottery sit in a bin at a local grocery store in January in Des Moines, Iowa.





Charlie Neibergall/AP



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Charlie Neibergall/AP



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The jackpot drought is by design, as the game’s long odds of 292.2 million to one are intended to generate massive prizes that draw more players.

Lottery officials are quick to note that even as no one wins the jackpot, plenty of people have won smaller prizes, including 2.8 million players in Saturday’s drawing alone. Those winnings ranged from $1 million to $4.

The $685 million promoted prize is for a winner who chooses the annuity option, paid over 29 years. Nearly all big winners take the cash option, which for Monday night’s drawing is an estimated $485.5 million. Either prize option would also be subject to taxes.

Powerball is played in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.