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Top 3 Things To Know About The Powerball Jackpot

Before you run out and start buying Powerball tickets, check out these three important things to know about winning the jackpot.

Top 3 Things To Know About The Powerball Jackpot
Los Angeles Times / Christina House
SMS

With no big winners since December, the Powerball lottery jackpot has grown to a whopping $400 million for Wednesday night's drawing.

​The fight for this current jackpot began at the end of 2013, which means it's rolled over more than a dozen times without a big winner. And if no one claims it Wednesday night, it'll continue to grow. (Via WJW-TV)

First — hate to disappoint but — you're probably not going to win. And by probably, we mean you're not.

According to the Multi-State Lottery Association, the odds of winning the jackpot are about 1 in 175 million. Yeah... 

But don't blame the growing jackpot or the millions of other people buying tickets for those crummy odds. Every time you play, you're still looking to match all five white balls and the red Powerball.

Second — let’s say you DO happen to win — again hate to disappoint but financial experts told CNN you should set aside your money in trusts and annuities for your family instead of buying anything extravagant. But, if you'd like to give it to us, that's another story.

Finally, even if you don't have the main Powerball number, you could still be a winner. (Via WRIC)

If you match the other five numbers on your ticket, you could still win a nice chunk of change, like the $1 million secondary prize.

And your odds of winning at least something aren't too shabby — at least, by comparison to the jackpot. Powerball says the odds of winning some kind of prize are about 1 in 32.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the $400 million prize is the sixth-largest in U.S. lottery history. If no one wins it big Wednesday, lottery officials say the jackpot will grow to around $500 million. And we'll start this all over again.