The Powerball lottery is a popular multi-state lottery game in the United States. Players select five white ball numbers from 1 to 69, and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. To win the jackpot prize, players must match all six numbers. The odds of winning the jackpot are incredibly slim, at 1 in 292 million. But that hasn’t stopped hopeful players in South Dakota from taking their chances at a life-changing jackpot prize. So has anyone in South Dakota gotten lucky and won the Powerball jackpot?
Powerball Overview
The Powerball lottery first began in 1992, originally starting as Lotto America. The name was changed to Powerball in 1997. The game is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and available in 45 US states, including South Dakota, plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Powerball jackpots start at $20 million and continue growing each drawing until there is a winner. Jackpots can roll over for months or even years before someone wins. The record Powerball jackpot to date is $1.586 billion, which was split between three winning tickets on January 13, 2016.
To play Powerball, players select 5 white ball numbers from 1-69, and 1 red Powerball from 1-26. Tickets cost $2 per play. There are 9 ways to win a prize, from $4 for matching just the Powerball up to the jackpot prize for matching all 6 numbers. Drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59pm ET.
Powerball History in South Dakota
Powerball tickets first went on sale in South Dakota on July 1, 1990 when the state joined the then-fledgling Multi-State Lottery Association. South Dakota was actually one of the original members that helped launch the Powerball game back in 1992.
Over the years, there have been some notable Powerball wins in South Dakota:
- In 1993, a $3.5 million jackpot was won in Huron.
- In 2000, a $20.8 million jackpot was split by two winners in South Dakota.
- In 2006, a $1 million prize was claimed by a ticket sold in Yankton.
- In 2007, a $200,000 prize was won in Milbank.
- In 2013, a $1 million prize was claimed by a ticket sold in Sioux Falls.
But has anyone in South Dakota ever hit the absolute jackpot and won the full Powerball grand prize?
Has Anyone in South Dakota Won the Powerball Jackpot?
The short answer is no. Since Powerball began in 1992, South Dakota has yet to produce a jackpot winner who has won the game’s top grand prize.
There have been some big winners over the years as highlighted above, with a few million dollar prizes claimed. But South Dakota is still chasing its first ever Powerball jackpot champion.
The closest any South Dakotan has come to the record jackpot was back in 1993 when the $3.5 million win in Huron held the record for the largest Powerball prize in the state at the time. But no one has taken home the monumental $100 million, $200 million, $300 million or even $1 billion type jackpots.
Notable Powerball Jackpot Wins
To demonstrate just how massive some Powerball jackpots can get, here are some of the notable grand prize jackpots hit over the years:
| Jackpot Amount | Date | Winning State(s) |
|---|---|---|
| $1.586 billion | 1/13/2016 | California, Florida, Tennessee |
| $768.4 million | 3/27/2019 | Wisconsin |
| $758.7 million | 8/23/2017 | Massachusetts |
| $731.1 million | 1/20/2021 | Maryland |
| $699.8 million | 10/4/2021 | California |
As you can see, these jackpots were won by players purchasing tickets in California, Florida, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Maryland and more. But South Dakota has yet to make an appearance on the Powerball jackpot winners map.
Close Calls in South Dakota
While they didn’t win the full jackpot, there have been some near-misses over the years where South Dakotans came very close to claiming the top prize:
- In 2005, a ticket sold at a Sioux Falls supermarket matched the first 5 numbers but missed the Powerball. This second prize win of $200,000 was just one number away from a $15 million jackpot.
- In 2008, a Mitchell resident was one number shy of a $165 million jackpot, matching 5 but missing the Powerball for a $150,000 prize.
- In 2013, a Rapid City ticket matched 5 numbers but missed the jackpot by just 1 number. Their prize for being so close was still an impressive $1 million.
So South Dakota lottery players have come quite close on a few occasions to winning it all. And with continued enthusiasm for playing Powerball in the state, there remains hope that a jackpot champion from South Dakota could still emerge one day.
Why Hasn’t South Dakota Produced a Jackpot Winner?
With the incredible long-shot odds, it is not overly surprising that South Dakota has yet to produce a jackpot winner in the 30 years since Powerball began. With odds of 1 in 292 million, there is heavy reliance on sheer luck. But some other factors may also contribute to South Dakota’s jackpot drought.
Smaller Population
Compared to more populated states like California, Texas and Florida which have all produced jackpot winners, South Dakota has a much smaller population. With just under 900,000 residents, South Dakota ranks 46th in terms of state population. With fewer overall ticket sales, the odds are reduced that a winner resides in South Dakota. In contrast, states like California can produce more winners simply through selling vastly more tickets with their nearly 40 million residents.
Fewer Big Cities
Unlike other states, South Dakota also lacks any huge metropolitan areas on par with places like Los Angeles, Houston or Miami where million dollar ticket sales are more frequent. Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota with just over 180,000 residents. Rapid City and Aberdeen are next with populations under 75,000. With fewer sales occurring in major city centers, South Dakota is again at a disadvantage when it comes to producing jackpot winners.
No Strategic Advantage
Some states have produced more winners than their relative population or sales would suggest simply through quirks that gave them an advantage. When Powerball added a 5th number matrix in 2015 it gave players better odds. Certain states were early adopters selling tickets with better odds before the change went nationwide. States like Indiana and Missouri saw disproportionate jackpot wins during the rollout. But South Dakota did not have any particular strategic advantage leading to increased odds at any point.
Luck
Ultimately, the failure for South Dakota to produce a grand prize winner still likely comes down primarily to luck. With odds so high, winning Powerball takes being in the exact right place at the exact right time no matter how many tickets are sold overall or where. A South Dakota winner likely would have beaten the odds and won from pure luck regardless of other factors. But the lottery gods have simply not shined on any South Dakota players with that once in a lifetime fortune changing jackpot luck yet. But there are still chances ahead.
Will South Dakota Ever Produce a Winner?
Given how long Powerball has been available in South Dakota without a jackpot winner, some may wonder if the state will ever hit the top prize. Could the jackpot drought last forever?
Of course, the odds don’t preclude a winner coming from South Dakota any more than any other particular state. In fact, South Dakota is probably overdue to produce a winner compared to the length of time Powerball has been available there.
Other similarly sized states have produced jackpot winners before, demonstrating wins can come from anywhere regardless of population, sales or other factors. For example:
- A $228.9 million jackpot was won in Laredo, Texas in 2008. Laredo’s population is under 260,000, comparable to Sioux Falls.
- A $399.4 million jackpot was won in Lexington, South Carolina in 2018. Lexington’s population is under 300,000, smaller than Sioux Falls.
- A $487 million jackpot was won in Trenton, New Jersey in 2021. Trenton’s population is under 85,000, smaller than Rapid City.
These wins prove jackpot luck can strike anywhere, whether that is Sioux Falls, Rapid City or any small town in between. South Dakota seemingly is just waiting for the right aligned stars that will eventually produce a billion dollar ticket. And with two drawings per week offering two chances for that luck to strike, a South Dakota winner could become reality at any time.
Projecting the Future
Based on the length of time since Powerball began in South Dakota, we can make some estimates as to how soon a jackpot winner may emerge:
- Powerball has been available in South Dakota for over 30 years
- There are 104 drawings per year providing two chances to win per week
- That is over 3,000 drawings since 1990 without a jackpot winner from South Dakota
- In probability terms, South Dakota may be viewed as 3,000 drawings “overdue” to produce a winner
- If we conservatively project 2,000 more drawings before a winner, that suggests about 20 years from now
Of course these are just projections with no guarantee. The win could come tomorrow, or in 5 years, or in 50 years. But based on averages, it does seem reasonable that South Dakota is due for lady luck to shine on the state within the next couple decades if not much sooner.
Key Takeaways
Some key points regarding Powerball winners in South Dakota:
- There has not yet been a Powerball jackpot winner from South Dakota since the game began in 1992
- South Dakota has produced some other sizeable winners, but no jackpot victors yet
- A variety of factors reduce South Dakota’s odds, but a win still seems statistically overdue
- Other small states have produced jackpot winners, proving South Dakota still could too
- Projections suggest South Dakota is likely to see a jackpot winner within the next 10-20 years if not sooner
- With continued enthusiasm for Powerball in South Dakota, the state’s first jackpot winner is likely just a matter of time
Conclusion
In conclusion, while no one has yet won the Powerball jackpot specifically in South Dakota, it remains likely just a matter of time. The state’s drought seems destined to end based on odds and comparisons to other states of similar size. South Dakotans have come close on several occasions, and with two chances each week for luck to strike, a Powerball jackpot winner originating from South Dakota seems imminent within the next couple decades if not much sooner. The state has waited patiently for 30 years since Powerball began, but South Dakota’s time to celebrate a jackpot champion could soon arrive. When that day comes, the winner will instantly become the state’s newest millionaire overnight.
