<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>327325</docID> <postdate>2024-08-22 09:02:44</postdate> <headline>Aussies gamble on winning big in $100m Powerball draw</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-327326" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240118001890477758-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="628" /></p> <caption>Thursday's Powerball jackpot has hit $100 million with millions taking entries in the draw. (Toby Zerna/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Belad Al-karkhey</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Despite the odds forever stacked against them, up to half of Australian adults are gambling on winning a $100 million lottery prize.</strong></p> <p>The major jackpot in Powerball's draw 1475 on Thursday is the third-biggest offered by any national lottery game in 2024 and the sixth-biggest jackpot in Australia's lottery history.</p> <p>The Lott's Matt Hart says up to half of the Australian adult population is expected to enter the draw in the hopes of scoring Powerball's biggest win of 2024.</p> <p>Only five Australians know what it's like to win a lottery prize of $100 million or more, but Mr Hart says there is always room for that to grow.</p> <p>The jackpot comes after there were no division-one winners from the past four Powerball draws.</p> <p>The odds of getting all seven numbers and the Powerball correct is one in 134,490,400, according to Gambler's Help and The Lott.</p> <p>Despite this, Mr Hart said the prospect of winning a "life-changing jackpot is sure to get Aussies dreaming big".</p> <p>"If just one person takes home the entire $100 million prize... they'll not only receive a substantial boost to their bank account but also share the crown of Australia's third biggest lottery winner ever," he said.</p> <p>For eager players across the country, a look down memory lane might make for a bit of luck as certain numbers appear more often in winning selections.</p> <p>While the Powerball is a game of chance, and every number is equally likely to be drawn, The Lott data shows some are pulled out more often than others.</p> <p>From the main barrel, where seven winning numbers are drawn from 35, the most frequently drawn have been 17, seven, three and nine.</p> <p>From the separate Powerball barrel, where a single number is drawn from 20, the most frequently drawn have been two and four.</p> <p>Entries close at 7.30pm (AEST) on Thursday before the draw takes place an hour later.</p> </body>