HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Lottery will offer people another option starting in the summer.
Gov. Mark Schweiker said Tuesday that Pennsylvania will become the 23rd state to sell PowerBall tickets. West Virginia and Delaware are already a part of the Multi-State Lottery Association.
"Residents want the option," Schweiker said. "There isn't a week that goes by that lottery players don't encourage me and those at the Department of Revenue to bring in the game."
About 40 percent of lottery revenues go toward programs for seniors, including prescription drugs, home care and rebates on property taxes and rent. Schweiker said those programs could face large budget deficits without extra funds.
Lottery officials said PowerBall could increase annual ticket sales by $60 million.
Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. ET. Five white balls are drawn out of a drum with 49 balls and one red ball out of a drum with 42 red balls. Players win by matching one or more of the balls.
The jackpot is won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red PowerBall.
PowerBall officals say the overall odds of winning a prize in the game is better than 1 in 35.
Click
here to check out the Powerball Web site and
here for the Pennsylvania Lottery site.
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