PlayUKinternet.com has once again raised the bar. by increasing our ticket purchasing offerings to include the United States' two multi-state lotteries, PowerBall and MegaMillions.

These two stateside lotteries have grown in popularity over their lifespan and are now played by millions of Americans on a regular basis. This article will give you a little more information on what we are sure will generate a huge amount of interest amongst PlayUKinternet.com subscribers.

Let's start with PowerBall. The following information is provided courtesy of Wikipedia.

Powerball is an American lottery game sold through U.S. lotteries as a shared jackpot pool game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a non-profit association formed by an agreement with member lotteries. There are currently 31 members - 29 state members, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands.

As of August 2008, to play the game, a player picks five numbers from 1 to 55 (white balls) and one additional number from 1 to 42 (the red Powerball number.) The minimum jackpot prize is a $15 million annuity disbursed in 30 payments over 29 years. When the jackpot rolls over, it increases by at least $5 million (e.g. $20 million after one roll.) The 30 annuity payments are not equal but based on an increasing rate schedule. For example, the first annual gross annuity payment on the base $15 million jackpot would be approximately $267,000 while the final payment would be approximately $834,000.

PowerBall drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at MUSL's studio in West Des Moines, Iowa, normally at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time (9:59 p.m. Central.) Drawings are occasionally scheduled at remote locations. The results of drawings are not official until they are audited by the accounting firm LWBJ, LLP.

On February 18, 2006, the jackpot worth $365 million was won by a single ticket sold in Nebraska. That single ticket was shared by eight meat plant workers. This is the largest Powerball prize (per ticket).

A grand prize won on October 19, 2005 worth $340 million was awarded to the West family of Jacksonville, Oregon. The family won less than two months after the rules were changed to promote larger payouts. Steve West, who purchased the ticket, put in $20 for tickets, along with another $20 from his in-laws. The family planned to split the prize among themselves.

Prior to the $340 million winner, Jack Whittaker of West Virginia was the claimant to the biggest jackpot. He won $314 million on Christmas Day, 2002.

On August 25, 2007, a jackpot worth $314 million was won by a retired auto worker from Ohio.

Now let's have a gander at Mega Millions. Once again, acknowledgement is made to Wikipedia for their contribution to the information below:

Mega Millions is a multi-jurisdictional lottery game in the United States. As of July 2008, there were 12 members of Mega Millions. As of 2007, Mega Millions features jackpots of at least $12 million, payable in 26 annual payments. As will be explained later, there are differences in playing Mega Millions in several jurisdictions. Mega Millions is drawn Tuesdays and Fridays.

As of 2008, to play the game, a player picks five numbers from 1 to 56 (white balls) and one additional number from 1 to 46 (the Mega Ball number, a gold-colored ball).

The Mega Ball number can be a duplicate of one of the white ball numbers, since the balls are drawn from separate machines.

Drawings are usually held at WSB-TV in Atlanta at 11:00 PM Eastern time on Tuesdays and Fridays. Usually, the announcer is WSB's chief weather forecaster, Glenn Burns. However, drawings may sometimes be held elsewhere:

* On February 20 and July 2, 2004, when the jackpot reached near-record levels (annuitized values of US$230 million and US$290 million, respectively), the draws were held in Times Square with New York Lottery draw host Yolanda Vega.

*On June 24, 2005, to commemorate California joining Mega Millions, the drawing was held in Hollywood, California with Carrie Underwood assisting Glenn Burns for the draw.

* On March 6, 2007, the draw returned to Times Square with host Yolanda Vega due to the world's largest jackpot offered (an annuitized jackpot of US$390 million).

Both these amazing products are now available to players worldwide owing to the ticket-purchasing facilities provided at www.PlayUSAlotteries.com, the latest successful brand in the PlayUKinternet.com stable.