North Carolina man misses $1bn Powerball jackpot by one number

A man in North Carolina has narrowly missed out on a $1bn (£770m) Powerball jackpot — by just one number.

Edward Allen, who bought a $3 Powerball ticket at a gas station in Monroe, matched four of the five white balls and the red Powerball in the 30 August draw. That win secured him $50,000, but because he had purchased a Power Play ticket, his prize was tripled to $150,000.

After taxes, Allen collected $107,626 when he claimed his prize at the North Carolina lottery office on Tuesday.

Despite his near miss, the jackpot continues to grow. With no winner over the Labour Day weekend, the top prize has now climbed to an estimated $1.3bn — the fifth-largest in Powerball history. Its cash value is around $589m.

The next draw will take place on Wednesday evening local time.

Lottery officials note the odds of winning the jackpot stand at roughly one in 292 million, but say the chance of smaller prizes makes the $2–$3 tickets appealing to many players.