Mississippi Players Flock To Enter State’s First Powerball Drawing
More than 13,000 players from Mississippi picked up prizes in the first Powerball drawing since the state joined the game. Nobody won the jackpot from across the 48 participating jurisdictions, but it was still a night to remember for ticket holders in Mississippi as they finally took part.
The winning numbers for Saturday February 1st were 12, 33, 54, 57 and 60, with a Powerball of 13. The top prize had reset to its minimum $40 million value following the success of a Florida player in Wednesday’s drawing, and it proved to be just out of reach.
One player – from Indiana, matched five main numbers without the Powerball to win $1 million each, while there were a total of 583,922 winning tickets across the nine different prize categories. Go to the Powerball Numbers page to see all the payouts.
Mississippi Winners
In Mississippi, 13,497 participants banked prizes, accounting for 2.31 percent of all Powerball winners in the draw. They now have 180 days to come forward and claim their winnings.
Residents of Mississippi have previously had to visit neighboring states to take part in Powerball, or just wait patiently for tickets to finally arrive. Having signed a bill into law in 2018 to introduce a state lottery, that day finally came on Thursday. Scratch-offs had been available since November, but it was the chance to win big jackpots of $40 million or more that had really got everyone excited.
Keith’s Superstore in the city of Pass Christian was chosen as the retailer to host the historic first ticket purchase on Thursday morning, as it was a store in the district of state senator Philip Moran, who authored the lottery bill.
After making the ceremonial first purchase, Moran hailed it as a landmark moment in the state. He said: “And today it begins. You can buy the Powerball and the Mega Millions all over the great state of Mississippi. We’re looking forward to many years of folks being able to buy their Powerball tickets here, Mega Millions, without having to go across state lines like we’ve all done for so many times.”
He added: “It took four years to get it passed at the capital, another two years to get it to this point where we are this morning. But we’re looking forward – Mississippi is moving forward – and it’s a great day for our state.
“Our great citizens in the great state of Mississippi are able to buy their tickets at home and more importantly be able to keep the money in the state. The money generated will fund infrastructure and education.”
Melissa Saucier, who works at Keith’s Superstore, said it had been a busy build-up to the big day but insisted everything was in place. She said: “We’ve just kind of revved up our staff, our inventory, but for the most part we would have been ready for this any day of the week.”
High Ticket Sales
Mississippi Lottery Corporation President Tom Shaheen later revealed that more than $500,000 worth of Powerball and Mega Millions tickets were sold on the first day.
"This is slightly over double of what we expected for jackpots at the current levels. Mississippians sent a resounding message that they were glad both games are here,” Shaheen said.
Go to the Mississippi page for more information about how the money raised from ticket sales will help to support the state’s roads, bridges, infrastructure and, in time, education. The jackpot for the next drawing, meanwhile, will climb to $50 million.
Page Last Updated: 11/30/2022 2:37:33 AM ET
