Keeping your name and address off your ticket is good for several reasons. It protects you from scammers and long lost friends, and it keeps your lottery winnings anonymous. The odds of a jackpot win are about 1 in 292.2 million. However, you’ll probably need to do a little extra work if you’re the lucky winner.

The Powerball jackpot has topped $1 billion. It started at $20 million in August. It’s one of the biggest lottery jackpots in US history. Despite its size, the jackpot is still relatively easy to win. The Powerball lottery has been around for 34 years. It’s played in 45 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.

Mega Millions has followed Powerball’s path. In December 2002, a $68 million ticket was sold in New York. In May 1999, New Jersey joined the game.

The earliest jackpots were drawn in Florida. Until 1996, the Georgia lottery was a member of MUSL, or Multi-State Lottery Association. But then, new governor Jeb Bush made Florida an exception to the rule.

The MUSL changed its format to make jackpots harder to win. It also increased the number of number combinations in the game.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are now a whopping one in 292.2 million. The jackpot has been growing steadily for three months. It reached an estimated $1.9 billion on Monday. It’s the largest jackpot in the game’s history.

The estimated jackpot is based on funds accumulated in the jackpot pool from prior drawings. It’s usually a percentage of the amount of base play revenue. It’s also based on sales and interest rates.