:format(png):focal(1810x1225:1820x1215)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gfrmedia/KBZTJ2VP6RD7FICTCU64PT72LI.jpg)
Puerto Rico Lotteries Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, Lorna Huertas, announced that tonight’s Powerball draw rose to $ 550 million, making it the ninth-highest prize in its history.
“I urge citizens to participate in this millionaire lottery and see the possibility that there is another winner in Puerto Rico. For us in Electronic Lottery it is vital to promote our market’s participation in a millionaire draw like this one as we are the only Latin jurisdiction part of Powerball. In addition to generating hundreds of winners on the island after each draw, it is a collection window through which we can contribute to the economic and social development of Puerto Rico, ”said the Deputy Secretary of Lotteries.
Karen Soto, assistant director of the electronic lottery, emphasized that for her part Selling Powerball games locally generates approximately $ 4.4 million per year in commission income between traders who are authorized to sell electronic lottery. “Both Powerball and the other products we offer generate not only a commission for sales to the local merchant, but also customer traffic to their businesses, especially when the jackpot rises to the level we are seeing these first weeks of the year. That’s why it’s so important to support local businesses by playing their electronic lotteries, ”said Soto.
The officials noted that tonight’s draw is also special because the date – Wednesday, January 13 – represents the fifth anniversary of the highest Powerball prize of $ 1.586 billion, which was won exactly on January 13, 2016.
“If there is a winner of the $ 550 million prize in Puerto Rico, we will wait for him at our office tomorrow to pay him his prize. This can be accumulated in a one-time payment, or in 30-year annuities with payments ranging from $ 8 to $ 30 million, ”added Soto.
Puerto Rico already has several Powerball winners, one of which was sold at Ponce Shell de Coto Laurel in February 2015. This price of $ 564.1 It was split with two other winners from North Carolina and Texas and was the first Powerball prize to be sold outside the continental United States. The other prize that fell on the island was $ 50 million in April of the same year and sold in Sabana Grande.