US Powerball players face steep odds as jackpot hits $1bn

Wednesday's scheduled drawing comes about nine months after California's Edwin Castro won $2.04bn in November

Powerball players across the US are bracing for the opportunity to win what would be the seventh-highest jackpot in American lottery history on Wednesday night.

The jackpot is estimated to be about $1bn after the Powerball lottery has gone 38 consecutive drawings without a winning ticket being sold, according to the official website for the game of chance. Someone last won the Powerball on 19 April, when the top prize was nearly $253m, the jackpot - as is typical - has been growing steadily since.