Powerball
Official Site
Powerball is a lottery game played in 42 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The drawings are held in Orlando, FL.
The cost of a Powerball ticket will increase from $1 to $2 beginning on January 15, 2012. The cost of Power Play will increase to $3 per ticket. The price hike will help boost jackpots. The minimum jackpot for Powerball will rise from $20 million to $40 million.
On January 4, 2009, the Powerball game was changed and now draws five white balls out of a drum with 59 balls and one red ball out of a drum with 39 red balls. The odds of winning the jackpot are much higher but the odds of winning any prize have actually dropped.
The jackpot (won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red PowerBall) is either an annuitized prize paid out over 29 years (30 payments) or a lump sum payment. Each ticket costs $1. If the winner chooses the annuity, the annual payment will be increased each year by the percentage set out in the Powerball game rules.
The second prize (won by matching five white balls in any order) is $200,000 paid in cash and any time you match the red PowerBall, you win. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game are approximately 1 in 35.
Power Play is a special feature that allows a winner to multiply the original prize amount. Powerball players can multiply their Powerball prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times (does not include the jackpot). The Match 5 prize with Power Play option will always be multiplied 5X’s for $1 million cash. Note that any set prizes or Power Play prizes, including the Match 5+0 prize, may be reduced if wins exceed the available prize fund.
Powerball is run by the The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) a non-profit, government-benefit association owned and operated by its member lotteries.
You must be 18 years or older to play.
Odds
If your 6-number combination matches the winning 6-number combination (5 winning numbers plus the Power Ball), then you win or share the First Prize Jackpot. If you match 5 winning numbers from the white section but fail to match the winning number from the Power Ball, you win the Second Prize. For other winning combinations, see chart as follows:
Prize
Level |
Winning Numbers
Matched Per Game |
Chances of
Winning per Game |
Prize |
| First |
5 numbers + Power Ball |
1 in 195,249,504.00 |
Grand Prize |
| Second |
5 numbers only |
1 in 5,138,133.00 |
$200,000 |
| Third |
4 numbers + Power Ball |
1 in 723,144.64 |
$10,000 |
| Fourth |
4 numbers |
1 in 19,030.12 |
$100 |
| Fifth |
3 numbers + Power Ball |
1 in 13,644.24 |
$100 |
| Sixth |
2 numbers + Mega Ball |
1 in 359.06 |
$7 |
| Seventh |
3 numbers |
1 in 787.17 |
$7 |
| Eighth |
1 number + Power Ball |
1 in 123.48 |
$4 |
| Ninth |
Power Ball only |
1 in 61.74 |
$3 |
Where the Money Goes
Half of $1 played goes to the lottery system for state lottery costs and good causes the state lawmakers have established.
The remaining 50 cents is put into the prize pools. Powerball puts 30 cents into the CASH jackpot pool and 20 cents into the other lower prize level pools.
Claiming Prizes
Ticket expiration periods vary from state to state - from 90 days to one year. They may also change from time to time. The back of your ticket will give the expiration period for your state.
History
Formed in 1987, the Multi-State Lottery Associaton's first multi-state game was "Lotto America". The game ran four years before being replaced. On April 22, 1992 the first "Powerball" drawing was held.
In 2009, MegaMillions and Multi-State Lottery Association agreed to allow states to sell both MegaMillions and Powerball games.
By 2010, Powerball is now available in 42 states and District of Columbia. California sells MegaMillions tickets but not Powerball.
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