$1.9 billion Powerball jackpot draw delayed due to technical issues

Powerball’s record $1.9 billion jackpot draw was delayed on Monday night as lottery officials needed more time to complete necessary « security protocols ».

Powerball announced the delay in a statement shortly after the highly anticipated 11 p.m. draw.

« Powerball has strict security requirements that must be met by all 48 lotteries before a draw can take place, » officials said in a statement.

« Once the required security protocols are completed, the draw will be conducted under the supervision of the lottery’s security officers and independent auditors. »

Powerball players across the country held their breath for the latest record draw that could land them a grand prize of $1.9 billion or $929.1 million in one lump sum payment.

The Powerball draw scheduled for Monday evening would be the 41st straight without a jackpot winner since early August.

While dozens of customers have cashed in prizes of $1 million or $2 million over this period, no one has yet won the grand prize which can be paid out over 29 years or in a single cash payment.

A lucky player from Kentucky won $2 million on Saturday night and 16 people across the country walked away with $1 million, including one person who bought a ticket in New York.

The biggest Powerball jackpot ever was in 2016, totaling $1.586 billion and split among three ticket holders.

Monday’s prize is only the third time in US lotto history that winnings have topped $1.5 billion.

Buzz grew in the Big Apple ahead of the high-stakes draw.

Brooklyn resident Victoria Davis said Sunday she had high hopes.

« How often does it go that high? Not often, » the 29-year-old pointed out, adding: « It’s a long time, but I can hope, can’t I?

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

The latest grand prize winner to overturn those odds this year came when a Pennsylvania Powerball ticket took home the $206.9 million prize on August 3.