Powerball Lottery Jackpot Reaches £157 Million

LONDON, February 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

As the USA's Largest Lottery Game Rolls Over, Brits are Queuing up to get in on the Action

Excitement is building in the USA as the Powerball, their national lottery, has rolled over yet again. Tonight's jackpot is expected to surpass £157 million, not too far off the 2006 record level of £230 million.

This time however, interest isn't limited to the States. Thousands of lottery fans on this side of the pond will also be watching with interest, as many lucky players from across the UK have managed to secure shares in syndicates that will enable them to win prizes in games featuring the Powerball lottery.

One such game is called the Power Combo Syndicate, which brings together three of the world's richest lotteries, including Powerball, in a single package, and is managed by the leading online lottery website WinTrillions.co.uk, part of the world's largest lottery website.

"Worldwide, around 1-in-3 lottery jackpot prizes are won by syndicates, so it's easy to see why playing the lottery as part of a group has become so popular," said Lucy Gold, spokesperson for WinTrillions.co.uk. "Lottery jackpots on this scale are rare, so our UK customers are determined not to miss out."

Launched in 1992, the Powerball lottery is famous for its big money jackpots and regular rollovers. With tickets on sales in 44 of America's 50 states, it ranks alongside USA Mega Millions and EuroMillions as one of the three richest weekly lotteries in the world.

One UK lottery fan who is no stranger to Powerball is Robert Smythe, a teacher from Newcastle upon Tyne. He said: "I've played in a syndicate with my work colleagues for years, and I've noticed a big rise in the number of international games available on the internet. Last year we started playing the Power Combo online in addition to the National Lottery that we play every week. It's really fun to be in another syndicate, especially one where the prizes are huge. We've won several small prizes so far, but I'm sure the big one is just round the corner!"

With £300 Million up for grabs this week alone, including the monster Powerball jackpot, will Robert and his teacher colleagues be skipping school on Monday?