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Powerball's Christmas Eve drawing carries an estimated $1.817 billion Christmas miracle — the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever after growing from $1.7 billion.Why it matters: The Christmas Eve drawing turns a $2 lottery ticket into a national "what if" moment as players rush to buy before stores close early for the holiday. A Powerball jackpot has been won once on Christmas Eve and four times on Christmas Day, lottery officials said.Christmas Eve winning Powerball numbersThe winning numbers in Wednesday's drawing were 4, 25, 31, 52 and 59 with a red Powerball of 19.Did anyone win Christmas Eve Powerball jackpot?The latest: Whether someone won the jackpot was not immediately known late Wednesday and expected to be announced early Thursday.Christmas Eve Powerball jackpotThe big picture: The Powerball jackpot has been rolling since early September, when the previous second-largest U.S. lottery prize ever — a $1.787 billion payout — was won.The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $781.3 million, Powerball officials said earlier Wednesday.Lottery officials are urging players to sign and secure their tickets, as prize claim centers will be closed Christmas Day.What they're saying: Matt Strawn, Powerball product group chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, said in a statement that the game is "meant to be enjoyed responsibly by adults" and lottery tickets "should not be given as gifts to children."What time is the Powerball Christmas Eve drawing?The drawing is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 10:59pm ET in Tallahassee, Florida.Powerball drawings are held three times each week, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.Where to watch the Powerball drawing liveWhat we're watching: Powerball drawings are broadcast live by carrier stations across the country and livestreamed on its website.A recorded clip of the drawing is also posted on the Powerball YouTube channel shortly after the drawing.When is the latest time to buy Powerball tickets tonight?Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.The deadline to purchase tickets for Wednesday's drawing varies by state because Powerball tickets are sold by individual lotteries.The cutoff times are typically one to two hours before the drawing.Yes, but: Many stores are closing early because of Christmas Eve.Powerball tickets online: States and apps to buyState of play: Some state lotteries sell Powerball tickets online, but players must be physically located in the state at the time of purchase, according to the lottery's website.These states have official state lottery platforms on their websites or apps: Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.Courier apps such as Jackpocket, Lotto.com and Jackpot.com buy tickets on behalf of players in approved states and provide a scanned copy.Zoom out: Online sales remain limited by state rules. Some states only allow in-person ticket purchases.Fees vary for the convenience of buying online, but the third-party services say they don't take any of the winnings.Powerball winning oddsThe overall odds of winning a Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9.But the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.The bottom line: A Christmas miracle is possible — but still far less likely than being struck by lightning, which happens to fewer than one in a million Americans each year.More from Axios:What restaurants and stores are open Christmas Day 2025Google's Christmas cookie map shows a peanut butter takeoverPenny shortage sparks a national math crisisEditor's note: This story was updated with the winning numbers from Wednesday's drawing and increased jackpot. Headlines were also updated.
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