Powerball Winning Numbers July 18: Watch $70 Mil Jackpot Drawing Live Online
Do you have the winning Powerball numbers for the July 18 drawing? There’s a $70 million jackpot up for grabs on Saturday night — if luck is on your side, you will match all six numbers and become the lottery’s newest multi-millionaire.
Watch the Powerball drawing live online on WRAL at 10:59 p.m. ET. The drawing is also broadcast live on these TV stations every Wednesday ad Saturday night.
Tonight’s winning Powerball numbers are: 6, 37, 39, 45, 66 PB 33 Powerplay 3
Your odds of winning the $70 million jackpot are slim — 1 in 179 million. However, that’s all about to change in October, when the odds of becoming a jackpot winner becomes even harder to do.
According to USA Today, there are changes ahead for the popular lottery game. Although the tickets will remain $2 each, the odds of winning the jackpot will increase to 1 in 285,981,696.
Why the change in the odds? Starting October 7, there will be more numbers (first five numbers, white balls) to choose from. Currently, players can choose any five numbers between 1 and 59. When the change takes place, there will be number 1 to 69 to choose from, but the amount of numbers to pick from for the Powerball (red ball) will decrease from 35 to 26.
There is good news. The set prize amount for the third-level non-jackpot prize (match 4 white balls and the Powerball) will increase from $10,000 to $50,000. However, the second-level prize (match 5 white balls, no Powerball) will remain at $1 million.
The Lottery Post states that the Megaplier feature may be free starting in October (currently $1), but the Multi State Lottery Association has not confirmed the change.
If you are lucky enough to win tonight’s $70 million jackpot, you will take home approximately $32,025,000 after federal taxes are deducted. Unless you live in a state that doesn’t tax lottery winnings (California, Delaware, Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming), the amount you receive will also be taxed on a state level.
Jackpot winners also get the option of choosing a 30-year annuity, with payments split over 29 years after the first payment. After federal taxes — and before state taxes are deducted — the yearly annuity payments for the July 18 jackpot would be $1,750,000.
Powerball numbers are drawn at 11 p.m. ET every Wednesday and Saturday, with ticket sales closing between 15 minutes and one hour prior to the drawing. Tickets are sold at lottery retailers in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
[Image: Scott Olson/ Getty Images]
