We’re in the Money: California Lottery Joins Powerball Game

While lottery players around the country were salivating over the longshot chance (read: 1 in 175,223,510) of winning half a billion dollars in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, Californians were left out of the action.

Not anymore.

On Thursday, the five-member California Lottery Commission unanimously voted to adopt the game, joining 42 other states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball sales in the Golden State will begin April 8, 2013.

"We have to continually offer our loyal players a variety of entertaining lottery games, and we firmly believe that Powerball is a right fit for the California Lottery," Lottery Director Robert T. O'Neill said in a statement.

Wednesday's Powerball payout of $588 million was the second-biggest jackpot of all time. Winning tickets were sold in Arizona and Missouri, according to lottery officials.

California currently participates in Mega Millions, a similar multi-state lottery.