How Aussies can win A$2 billion

 

Wednesday’s US Powerball jackpot has swelled to an estimated $1.4 billion – or A$2 billion – and Aussies can buy tickets to be in for a chance to win what will be the world’s largest ever prize.

The odds to win are one in 292.2 million. Seventy-five percent of all the possible combinations were purchased before Saturday's drawing and lottery officials expect that enough tickets will be sold to cover about 80 percent by Wednesday – about 95 percent of Powerball tickets have computer-generated numbers.

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The jackpot has ballooned since its November 4 starting point of $40 million, and spurred huge ticket sales.

The lottery tickets can be purchased online here by both US citizens and also by anyone outside the US.

“Although there are no authorised lottery retailers based outside of the US, our lottery ticket partner allows you to purchase US state and national lottery tickets from anywhere in the world,” Lottery USA says on its site.

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Although a potential win for a non-US citizen is subject to taxation.

“Should a non-US citizen win a lottery prize, they are subject to federal withholding taxes for non-US citizens, which is 30 per cent of their winnings,” the website states.

“While this amount may vary depending on which state the winning ticket is claimed in, the amount that non-US citizens are taxed is very similar to that which is applied to US citizens.”