How to play Powerball
Following the April 8, 2020 drawing, guaranteed starting jackpot amounts and minimum jackpot increases will be eliminated, and future jackpot increases will be determined and announced by the Product Group prior to each drawing.In April 2020, Powerball announced changes to the starting jackpot amount. More information here.
Think of how to play Powerball in terms of colors and numbers. You must select numbers for five white balls and one red ball (the Powerball) for a total of six numbers. Click for a closer view of the playslip to learn more.
Here are the ways to play Powerball:
- Choose your own numbers on a playslip. Pick five different numbers from 1 through 69; then, select one Powerball number from 1 through 26.
- Or you can choose Easy Pick and let the computer choose your numbers
- You can also use a combination of these play methods: Pick some of your favorite numbers, and let the computer fill in the rest.
- Each play (six numbers) costs $2.
- Powerball draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday at 11 p.m.
How to Play
While picking numbers every week is one way to play, it’s not your only option. Let’s take a closer look at the different ways to play the game.
First, you have Easy Pick, which lets the computer choose six random numbers for you. You can also do a combination; you select some numbers, and the computer picks the rest.
You also can purchase Power Play. For an additional $1 per play, you can earn between two and 10 times more money if you win a non-jackpot prize. The Power Play can multiply your winnings by two, three, four, five or 10 times based upon the Power Play ball that is drawn in a given drawing. There are 24 2x balls, 13 3x balls, three 4x balls and 5x balls each and one 10X ball.
A Multi-draw play means you’re playing with the same numbers over and over again. You can play up to 26 times in a row with the same six numbers.
A Repeat play means you’re getting the same numbers repeatedly for one drawing. You can purchase the same numbers up to 20 times per drawing.
There are Game Machines in 1,500+ stores across Virginia that allow you to skip the checkout lines and get your Powerball tickets without the hassle of going to a cashier. You can also create a Virginia Lottery account and purchase your tickets online while you are anywhere in Virginia.
Power Play
Power Play is an add-on feature that allows players to multiply their non-jackpot prizes, for just $1 more per play! With Power Play, players can win $2 million for matching the five white balls or multiply his/her other non-jackpot prizes two to five times when the advertised jackpot is over $150 million, and up to 10 times when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less. A player must choose the Power Play option on his/her POWERBALL playslip or tell the retailer that he/she wishes to purchase a Power Play ticket. The multiplier number will be selected just before the draw.
|
($2) POWERBALL |
($1) POWER PLAY |
On Jackpots upto $150 million |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | Base Game | Odds | X2 | X3 | X4 | X5 | X10 |
| 5 of 5 + PB | *$20,000,000 | 1:292,201,338 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 of 5 | $1,000,000 | 1:11,688,053.52 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 4 of 5 + PB | $50,000 | 1:913,129.18 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| 4 of 5 | $100 | 1:36,525.17 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 of 5 + PB | $100 | 1:14,494.11 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 of 5 | $7 | 1:579.76 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 2 of 5 + PB | $7 | 1:701.33 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 1 of 5 + PB | $4 | 1:91.98 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| Powerball | $4 | 1:38.32 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| Overall | 1:24.87 |
*Jackpots start at $20 million and roll over until won. The jackpot prize will be shared among jackpot winners in all POWERBALL states. All non-jackpot prizes are set payouts. If funds are insufficient to pay set prizes, non-jackpot prizes maybe paid on a pari-mutuel basis and could be lower than the amount shown.
How to Win
Prior to the official POWERBALL drawing conducted by MUSL, a Power Play multiplier number (between 2 and 5; 10 is included when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less) is selected and will be displayed during the draw, in which five out of 69 numbers (white balls) and a Powerball number between 1 and 26 (red ball) will be drawn at random. There are nine ways to win POWERBALL prizes by matching the winning numbers drawn in the official drawing for the date played. Match all five numbers plus the Powerball to win the jackpot or match any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations to win other great cash prizes!
All POWERBALL prizes are set payouts, except the jackpot. The jackpot prize will be shared among winners in all POWERBALL states. The jackpot will be paid in 30 annual payments or a one-time cash payment of a reduced amount. If there is no jackpot winner, the money in the jackpot pool rolls over to the next POWERBALL drawing.
All POWERBALL prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased. POWERBALL prizes must be claimed within 180 days after the winning drawing date. Federal income taxes will be withheld from POWERBALL prizes as required by the Internal Revenue Code at the time payments are made. Any additional federal, state and/or local taxes shall be the responsibility of the winner. Prizes of up to $1 million may be claimed at a Florida Lottery district office. Prizes of more than $1 million must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Read more about claiming Lottery prizes.
Play options
It’s always great to have options, so mark the OPTIONAL PLAYS box on your playslip for any of the following.
- Want to play the same numbers for more than one draw on a single ticket? A Multi-Draw ticket lets you play up to 26 consecutive draws on one ticket. Please keep in mind that the ticket price increases for each draw you add.
- Thinking ahead to a special date? You can buy a ticket for one future draw date. It’s called a Future draw. Mark the Optional Plays box on your playslip, and let the clerk know which future draw date you have in mind.
- Love those numbers so much you want them on more than one ticket? You can Repeat your play and have the same numbers printed on more than one ticket up to 20 times.
- Tell your clerk which option you want when you present your playslip. Keep in mind that playing in more than one draw increases the ticket price by the number of draws you choose.
You can find different VA Lottery Powerball retail locations in the Virginia Lottery app or by using the Find a Retailer tool. Download the app to scan your non-winning tickets and check out our newest Scratchers too!
Even Non-US Citizens Can Play Power Play
You don’t need to be a US resident to purchase Powerball tickets and opt-in for the Power Play multiplier option. Provided you’re the minimum age to play, you’re eligible for Power Play.
What’s more, tickets are available every single day of the week until the cut-off time, which is on the night of the Powerball draws, typically about two hours before the draw.
You can also play several games on a single ticket, giving you more chances to win. However, when you opt-in for Power Play, it’s just the once for $1 and applies to all your games for that draw. On the other hand, you can choose to play several upcoming draws, too, and choose the Power Play multiplier option.
Pick the Best Play Format for You
When you play Powerball online on theLotter, you can expand your lottery experience with some advanced play formats. These will exponentially increase your chances of winning the Powerball, which makes them worth your attention. Here are the main formats you can try online:
Syndicates – Playing a Powerball syndicate means joining a group of registered players just like you. A syndicate includes a large number of tickets and the total price is divided into equal shares that you can buy. This means that you can have a lot of tickets in the game without making a colossal investment. If one or more tickets in the group have the winning numbers for Powerball prizes, the payout will be divided between the members of the syndicate according to the shares that they have purchased. For example, if a syndicate has a total of 100 shares, then the amount of the prize will be divided into 100. Another advantage is that you don’t have to do anything to organize a syndicate when playing Powerball online with theLotter.
Bundles – If you thought it couldn’t get any better than this, let us tell you about bundles! These allow you to boost your odds of winning even more than syndicates do. Bundles are a great combination of a standard play and a syndicate. They always feature an individual ticket and at least one syndicate share. With bundles, you have multiple package choices, depending on the number of syndicate shares they include: Classic, Deluxe, and Premium.
Systematic Forms – On theLotter, you can play Powerball with every possible combination of 6 to 10 of your lucky numbers. This means that you will go into the game with a lot of tickets and a higher chance of scooping a prize. If you match even some of the winning numbers, you will have them on several tickets, which means that you can win more prizes. With systematic forms, you get your very own Powerball multiplier. If you also add Power Play to your tickets, you can boost your winnings through the roof.
The Secondary Prizes in the Powerball
If you don’t manage to win the incredible top Powerball prize, there are some fabulous secondary prizes that you can look forward to. The US Powerball offers a total of 9 prize divisions, including the jackpot.
Matching all of the main numbers, but not the Powerball, earns players a fabulous $1 million prize. The next prize tier is worth $50,000 and it goes to players who match 4 of the 5 main numbers with the Powerball.
Remember that the second prize in the Powerball can reach $2 million and the third prize can reach $100,000, $150,000, $200,000, $250,000, or even $500,000 for winners playing the Power Play option.
As for the following prize divisions (4th to 9th), they are worth $100.00 and less, but they will provide players with an excellent incentive to keep playing this fabulous lottery. They will also be increased by the Power Play multiplier, which makes it well worth trying out.
How to Win Powerball
Now that you have your tickets, it’s time to wait for the twice-weekly drawings to see if your Powerball numbers come up. How do you win Powerball?
If you’ve matched all five numbers plus the Powerball number, you win the current jackpot. Congratulations! It’s important to note, however, that the Power Play multiplier doesn’t apply to jackpot wins.
According to Powerball rules, if you match five numbers but miss the Powerball, you can win $1 million (if you do not purchase Power Play) or $2 million (if you do purchase Power Play). Note that the Power Play multipliers do not apply here. Selecting Power Play just increases your win from $1 million to $2 million.
Without Power Play, four numbers plus the Powerball number wins $50,000. With Power Play, you can win between $100,000 and $250,000. Without the Powerball, matching four numbers wins between $100 and $500 — the same amount you’ll win if you match three balls and the Powerball.
Three balls by themselves, or two balls and the Powerball, wins between $7 and $35. One ball plus the Powerball or the Powerball by itself wins between $4 and $20.
If the annuity jackpot is equal to or more than $150 million, the 10x Power Play ball is removed from the drawing.
How to Play
USA Powerball draws take place twice a week in Florida. They are held at 22:59 Eastern Time on Wednesdays and Saturdays – see the on this page for the draw schedule according to South Africa local time. To take part, you must select five main numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. It costs $2 per board to play.
Playing from South Africa
Tickets are only available to buy from retailers in 45 states in the USA, plus the jurisdictions of Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. However, you can also play online from South Africa and other countries by following the steps below:
- Go to the Buy Tickets page and select USA Powerball
- Choose your numbers or select a Quick Pick on as many boards as you want to play
- Select whether to enter a single draw or multiple draws
- Select ‘Add To Cart’ and pay for your purchase.
If it is your first time, you will be guided through how to set up an online account. Your numbers will be safely stored online and you will be notified automatically if you are a winner, with prizes paid straight into your account.
Power Play
When you buy a Powerball ticket, you can also add Power Play for an extra $1 per line. If you win any prize except the jackpot, it will be multiplied by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or 10x its original amount if you have selected the Power Play option. The multiplier is determined by a number that is randomly selected in the Power Play draw that takes place alongside the main game.
The 10x Power Play is not available once the jackpot exceeds $150 million. The second prize of $1 million is always doubled to $2 million regardless of which Power Play multiplier is in play.
The table below shows the odds of each Power Play multiplier being selected. The odds differ slightly depending on whether the 10x multiplier is available.
| Multiplier | Odds with 10x | Odds without 10x |
|---|---|---|
| 10x | 1 in 43 | N/A |
| 5x | 1 in 21.5 | 1 in 21 |
| 4x | 1 in 14.33 | 1 in 14 |
| 3x | 1 in 3.31 | 1 in 3.23 |
| 2x | 1 in 1.79 | 1 in 1.75 |
Power Play may not always be available to players entering online from outside the USA.
Power Play
Power Play is an add-on feature that allows players to multiply their non-jackpot prizes, for just $1 more per play! With Power Play, players can win $2 million for matching the five white balls or multiply his/her other non-jackpot prizes two to five times when the advertised jackpot is over $150 million, and up to 10 times when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less. A player must choose the Power Play option on his/her POWERBALL playslip or tell the retailer that he/she wishes to purchase a Power Play ticket. The multiplier number will be selected just before the draw.
|
($2) POWERBALL |
($1) POWER PLAY |
On Jackpots upto $150 million |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | Base Game | Odds | X2 | X3 | X4 | X5 | X10 |
| 5 of 5 + PB | *$20,000,000 | 1:292,201,338 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 5 of 5 | $1,000,000 | 1:11,688,053.52 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 4 of 5 + PB | $50,000 | 1:913,129.18 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| 4 of 5 | $100 | 1:36,525.17 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 of 5 + PB | $100 | 1:14,494.11 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 of 5 | $7 | 1:579.76 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 2 of 5 + PB | $7 | 1:701.33 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 1 of 5 + PB | $4 | 1:91.98 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| Powerball | $4 | 1:38.32 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| Overall | 1:24.87 |
*Jackpots start at $20 million and roll over until won. The jackpot prize will be shared among jackpot winners in all POWERBALL states. All non-jackpot prizes are set payouts. If funds are insufficient to pay set prizes, non-jackpot prizes maybe paid on a pari-mutuel basis and could be lower than the amount shown.
How to Win
Prior to the official POWERBALL drawing conducted by MUSL, a Power Play multiplier number (between 2 and 5; 10 is included when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less) is selected and will be displayed during the draw, in which five out of 69 numbers (white balls) and a Powerball number between 1 and 26 (red ball) will be drawn at random. There are nine ways to win POWERBALL prizes by matching the winning numbers drawn in the official drawing for the date played. Match all five numbers plus the Powerball to win the jackpot or match any of the non-jackpot-winning combinations to win other great cash prizes!
All POWERBALL prizes are set payouts, except the jackpot. The jackpot prize will be shared among winners in all POWERBALL states. The jackpot will be paid in 30 annual payments or a one-time cash payment of a reduced amount. If there is no jackpot winner, the money in the jackpot pool rolls over to the next POWERBALL drawing.
All POWERBALL prizes must be claimed in the state where the ticket was purchased. POWERBALL prizes must be claimed within 180 days after the winning drawing date. Federal income taxes will be withheld from POWERBALL prizes as required by the Internal Revenue Code at the time payments are made. Any additional federal, state and/or local taxes shall be the responsibility of the winner. Prizes of up to $1 million may be claimed at a Florida Lottery district office. Prizes of more than $1 million must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters in Tallahassee. Read more about claiming Lottery prizes.
US Powerball – Rules of the Game
As per the official Powerball rules, for each line you play, choose 5 main numbers from a guess range of 1 to 69 and a Powerball from 1 to 26. Once you have selected the numbers you want, your ticket for America’s biggest lottery is in!
You can also opt for the Power Play multiplier, for a small additional cost of $1.00 per line. This option can increase your winnings 2, 3, 4, or even 5 times.
If you successfully guess all the main numbers and the Powerball, then the huge jackpot is yours and you go home a BIG winner! Guessing the main numbers without the Powerball will win you the second prize, which is worth a full million.
The Powerball Jackpot
Over the years, the US Powerball lottery has established itself as the leader in the lottery world due to its enormous jackpots. It holds the world record for the largest jackpot ever awarded in a lottery game, with a massive prize of $1.58 BILLION, reached on January 13th, 2016.
The most important thing to know about the Powerball jackpot is that for each draw that does not have a jackpot winner, the amount rolls over and increases without any cap. There is no established prize limit for the first prize, so it can go up many times over.
As such, if there are no players claiming the jackpot, it will get bigger and bigger until one or more lucky players finally match the 5 main numbers and Powerball. This has made the Powerball lottery popular with players all over the world because everyone wants a share of the enormous prizes in America’s biggest lottery.
The Power Play Multiplier
The US Powerball offers a multiplier called Power Play, which is an optional feature that can increase the prizes in the game 2, 3, 4, 5, or even 10 times. You have to pay an additional $1.00 fee to add the multiplier to your ticket, but it can take your winnings to new heights. The Power Play number is drawn from a separate barrel during the Powerball draw. The multiplier does not apply to the Powerball jackpot, it only increases the secondary prizes in the game. It can double the $1 million second prize and it can increase the other prizes in the game 2, 3, 4, or 5 times. When the jackpot is below the amount of $150 million, a 10x Power Play number is also entered in the game.
