Big Powerball jackpot raises $14.5M for Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — The run up to last week’s Powerball jackpot raised $14.5 million for Illinois schools, roads and bridges.

Illinois Lottery officials announced Thursday that as the jackpot grew to $336 million, sales of lottery tickets also grew.

Sales reached nearly $10,000 per minute during the evening of Feb. 11.

Drawing-to-drawing sales grew during the last two drawings by 41 percent and 61 percent.

In Illinois, the total Powerball sales for the jackpot totaled $34.6 million. Nearly $15 million in sales were during the last two drawings, when the announced jackpot was $250 million and $325 million, respectively.

The largest jackpot in U.S. history was $390 million in March 6, 2007, when two winning Mega Millions tickets were sold in Georgia and New Jersey.