Lottery fever as US jackpot hits $US600m The US is in the grip of lottery fever as the Powerball jackpot hits a record $US600 million. LOTTERY fever is gripping the United States as the Powerball jackpot hit a record $US600 million ($A613.97 million) thanks to a coast-to-coast ticket-buying frenzy by wannabe instant millionaires. In a statement on Friday, the Iowa state lottery agency said the jackpot - played in 43 states - now is "the largest in the 21-year history of the game" as well as the second-largest in world lottery history. "Strong sales across the country are the reason the prize is taking big jumps now," it said - particularly after Wednesday's drawing, when the jackpot stood at $US363.9 million, failed to come up with a winner. Indeed, the last time anyone hit the jackpot was March 30. The fact that Californians since April 7 can play Powerball - a choice of five numbers from a pool of 59, plus a Powerball number from a separate pool of 35 - is also credited with robust sales of the $2 tickets. The richest US jackpot of all time was $US656 million, won in a Mega Millions drawing in March 2012 and split between three tickets in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. Like all US lotteries, the winnings are subject to tax.