$1 Million Lottery Ticket Sold in Aurora as Powerball Reaches $1.7 Billion

The Powerball jackpot has soared to an impressive $1.7 billion, marking the third largest in U.S. history, while a $1 million winning ticket was sold in Aurora, Illinois. This ticket, featuring five matching numbers, was purchased at Joe’s Tobacco & Vape located at 1945 W. Galena Blvd. on Wednesday. In addition, a ticket worth $50,000 that matched four numbers was sold nearby at the BP Gas & Food at 2200 W. Galena Blvd.

The upcoming drawing for the Powerball jackpot is scheduled for September 6, 2024. The current jackpot run began on June 2, 2024, and during this period, over 1.3 million winning tickets have been sold. Illinois Lottery players have collectively won nearly $15.7 million in prizes, as reported by the Illinois Lottery.

Retailers selling winning tickets receive 1% of the prize money. In 2024, residents of Illinois spent approximately $3.86 billion on lottery tickets, resulting in $883.6 million in proceeds distributed across various initiatives. Since the jackpot run began, the Powerball has generated $73.8 million in ticket sales.

These lottery revenues play a significant role in funding education. The Illinois Lottery announced that it is returning nearly $29.5 million to the Common School Fund, which supports K-12 education throughout the state. According to the Illinois Association of School Boards, the lottery contributed $762 million to public schools in fiscal year 2021, accounting for about 5.3% of the state’s $14 billion total contributions to education.

Despite the seemingly positive impact, some reports indicate that the lottery revenues earmarked for education often serve to offset reductions in state funding for schools. The Illinois Answers Project has noted that much of the money previously allocated for education is now spent elsewhere, raising questions about the true benefits of lottery funding for public education.

As the Powerball continues to attract attention and excitement, the impact of these lottery sales on local communities and state funding remains significant. Players across Illinois and beyond eagerly await the next drawing, hoping to become the next big winner in this record-setting jackpot.