US Powerball jackpots to record $1.9 billion after no winner

The Powerball jackpot recently reached a record high of $1.6 billion. Photo / AP

A record Powerball jackpot grew to an even larger $1.9 billion (NZ$3.2 billion) after no one won the lottery drawing on Saturday night.

The numbers drawn were: white balls 28, 45, 53, 56, 69, and red Powerball 20.

The next chance for someone to get lucky will be Monday night.

The new $1.9 billion jackpot is for a winner who is paid through an annuity over 29 years. Winners of lottery jackpots usually prefer a lump sum of cash, which for Monday’s draw would be $929.1 million.

The Powerball prize keeps getting more massive because of the inability of anyone to overcome the long odds of 1 in 292.2 million and win the jackpot. To take the top prize, players must match all five white balls and one red Powerball.

Since someone won the prize on August 3, there have been 40 draws without a winner. That matches a record for draws without a winner, along with a run of drawings last year, according to the Clive, Iowa-based Multi-State Lottery Association.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.