Powerball Ticket Sales Suspended in Maine
State officials have confirmed that residents of Maine cannot purchase lottery tickets for a range of popular multistate games, including Powerball. The news was announced on Saturday, following a government shutdown in the state.
Gregory R. Mineo, director of the Maine State Lottery commented: “The state voluntarily stopped selling the four draw games because it would be unable to meet its contractual obligations with a consortium of other states.” The other games that have been affected by the shutdown are Mega Millions, Hot Lotto, and Lucky for Life.
Mineo also added: “During a shutdown, no funds may go out of the state government that were not appropriated by the Legislature.”
Until the state government agrees a budget and the shutdown is lifted, fans of Powerball in Maine will not be able to purchase Powerball tickets from authorized retailers in their locality. In addition, any winning tickets from previous draws worth over $600 will need to be redeemed from the Maine State Lottery office in Augusta, which will only open once the shutdown ends.
If you are looking to purchase a ticket for Wednesday’s Powerball draw, you can travel to a neighboring state such as New Hampshire or alternatively, players can choose their numbers online.
Page Last Updated: 3/28/2018 9:18:08 AM ET
