Aussies given a rare chance at taking home $1.2 billion

Australians have been given a rare chance to win big, as one of the world’s largest lotteries jackpots.

Australians have been offered the rare chance to take part in a mammoth US lottery valued at $1.2 billion.

The US Powerball lottery is ordinarily out of reach for those outside the US, but Australian company the Lottery Office has a solution.

For every ticket bought through the Lottery Office’s USA Power Lotto, a corresponding ticket is bought in the US, allowing the company to pay out any money won in the US to an Australian customer.

“If the customer wins, we pay them the exact amount of the winnings we collect from the overseas lottery ticket,” Lottery Office CEO Jaclyn Wood said.

The company says its USA Power Lotto, which closes at midday AEDT on Sunday, is the company’s highest performing lotto, having previously reached a jackpot of $2.2 billion.

Ms Wood said the company’s unique system allowed Australians a rare opportunity to vie for prizes well above what is normally on offer in local lotteries.

Australians have been given the opportunity to compete in the US Powerball’s $1.2 billion jackpot. Picture: AP Photo/Nati Harnik.

“The Lottery Office is 100 per cent Australian owned and operated and we are passionate about enabling Australians to benefit from international lotteries, as these draws are often significantly larger on average than what you will find in a traditional Australian lottery,” she said.

“For example, the US Powerball, which is matched to our USA Power Lotto, holds the world record for the biggest prize ever at $A2.2 billion, while the largest ever Australian lotto payout was $A111 million.”

Headquartered in the Northern Territory, The Lottery Office has brought international lotteries to Australian shores since 2003.

After entries for the USA Power Lotto close on Sunday, the company will offer Australians a crack at lotteries across Europe, including the $459 million Italian Super Jackpot.

“Everyone dreams of winning big, so having the opportunity to benefit from these lotteries has incredible potential, regardless of which division our players win,” Ms Wood said.

Originally published as Aussies given a rare chance at taking home $1.2 billion