Long Islanders hopeful to win $580 million Powerball Jackpot

According to lottery officials, if one beats the odds - 1 in 292 million - and hit all five numbers plus the Powerball, the jackpot could be worth around $278 million before taxes if it's taken as a cash payout.

News 12 Staff

Oct 23, 2022, 2:28 AM

Updated 718 days ago

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A lot of Long Islanders were dreaming big Saturday night for the $580 million Powerball Jackpot.
Employees at Cory's Lucky Lotto store had a busy day selling Power Ball tickets.
"I'm getting a piece of that $580 million," said resident Steve Beach, who was like many Long Islanders with visions of Powerball winning's dancing through their heads.
According to lottery officials, if one beats the odds - 1 in 292 million - and hit all five numbers plus the Powerball, the jackpot could be worth around $278 million before taxes if it's taken as a cash payout.
Many people performed their own lucky rituals before they bought their ticket.
Jennifer Biren said she usually wins something when she kicks the trash can before buying tickets. She runs a Plainview Moms and Dads Facebook group for lottery tickets. For every $10 she gets, she donates $2 to cancer charity Relay For Life. Then the rest goes into tickets. On Saturday, she bought $3,200 in Powerball tickets.
If the pool wins the jackpot, it's divided within the group. Any other smaller winnings she said are donated to a local charity.
"Every time we win, sometimes I ask them where do you want to donate or what charity do you want to donate to? The community comes together and that's what it's about, showing we're all trying to help each other," Biren said.
Even if the odds seem high, it didn't slow down sales on Saturday. Steve Beach, of Wantagh, said he'd just be happy with winning something.
"Even if you just get them all without the power ball you get a million bucks. A million bucks ain't bad either," he said.
If there is no winner declared from Saturday night's drawing, the jackpot will continue to grow.
The winning numbers were 19, 25, 48, 55 and 60. The Powerball was 18.