Powerball on the Grow: Annuity Jackpot at $685 million for Monday

Heavy play has pushed the Powerball jackpot upwards for Monday night's drawing, the 40th drawing since June without a jackpot winner.

The annuity value for Monday's drawing grew on Monday to $685 million ($485.5 million cash) making it the 8th largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history and the 6th largest in Powerball’s history.

"Wow, lottery players here in New Hampshire sure do love their Powerball game! Last week, we sold just shy of $2 million of Powerball tickets and with today’s jackpot, that this morning started out at $670 million it was increased mid-day to due to high ticket sales for tonight’s drawing, it looks like our players are in it to win it," NH Lottery spokeswoman Maura McCann told Seacoast Current.

The Powerball jackpot was last hit in the June 5 drawing when a ticket worth $285.6 million was sold in Florida. Since then Powerball added a third drawing on Monday.

The NH Lottery broke its all time sales record in April to become one of the fastest growing lotteries in the country with $518.5 million in total sales.

The game also generated $142.1 million in revenue to support education in New Hampshire for a total of $2.3 billion since the lottery was founded in 1964.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH