How to playthe powerball lottery

HOW TO PLAY POWERBALL:

1. Choose five different numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26

2. Place wagers by asking for a QUICK PICK or by using the Powerball playslip. Playslips are available at Wisconsin Lottery retailers.

3. Choose how many draws to play. Each ticket costs $2 per play per draw. Powerball can be played up to 8 draws (4 weeks) in advance.

4. Select the Power Play feature (an additional $1 per play) for a chance to multiply winnings.

5. Check playslip carefully before handing it to the retailer. POWERBALL TICKETS CANNOT BE CANCELLED.

   TO WIN THE BIGGEST JACKPOT IN THE WORLD IS REAL!!! Try! →

6. Give completed playslip and cash to the retailer.

7. Receive, sign, and safeguard ticket. A ticket is needed to claim a prize. Playslips are not valid to claim a prize.

8. For each play, all six selected numbers are printed on one line of the ticket with the Powerball number printed to the right, under the word “POWER.”

Please click here for brochure.

Please click features and procedures for more details regarding this game.

Please click here for Powerball group rules.

HOW TO WIN POWERBALL:

DRAW DAYS:

Rule Changes

Changes to the Powerball game rules came into effect on October 4th 2015 for the October 7th draw. The changes reduced the chances of a jackpot win and improved the chances of winning any other prize as the table below illustrates. The changes ensured that the Powerball jackpot grows faster and higher that it did prior to the October 7th 2015 draw.

State Variations

Some states have variations to certain aspects of the game; for example, the amount of time you have to claim your prize might depend on where you bought your ticket. The closing time for ticket sales changes between different states. Officially it can be anywhere from an hour or more before the draw takes place. California’s prize dividends are pari-mutuel meaning the prize amount will vary depending on the number of winners and tickets sold (this excludes the jackpot which is the same as the national publicised jackpot). To be clear, the game play is exactly the same from state to state.

Play Online

Contrary to popular belief, the official Powerball site stipulates that non-residents of the United States can participate in the Powerball lottery.

Canadians can participate in the Powerball lottery by using an online lottery service – a relatively new phenomenon that gives players access to numerous lottery games no matter where they’re based. It’s important to note that any online lottery service linked to or from Powerball.ca has been tested and vetted by the Powerball.ca editorial staff.

Powerball Results Online – Latest Powerball Lottery Numbers

Powerball, formally known as lotto America before its renaming in 1992, is an amazing lottery game. Since its first draw in 1978, the lotto has continuously hosted draws in all the different states of the USA. However, players outside the United States can access the game online at Multilotto. The only requirement is that you are above 18 years of age. Beyond this, you get to play whether as a single player or in the syndicate mode (playing as a group) to increase your chances of winning.

Up to date, the lottery has awarded over 473,026 lucky winners from around the globe. These wins include the massive jackpots and the other 8 possible wins in the draw. Powerball has paid out $6,189, 907 as wins in the mini draws. To join these players all you need to purchase a ticket at your retailers or simply do it at the comfort of your home with Multilotto, then await the Powerball numbers during the draw for your chance of winning.

PowerPlay

PowerPlay is your chance to boost any non-jackpot prizes you win and it only costs an extra US $1 per ticket. The Power Play is drawn using a random number generator (RNG). One selection is made from a pool of 42 balls, each marked with a multiplier amount: 24 market 2x, 13 marked 3x, three marked 4x, two marked 5x, and a single 10x multiplier which is added as well if the jackpot for that draw is below US $150 million.

If you win a non-jackpot prize in the main draw, and have selected the Power Play option on your ticket, then you are guaranteed to have your prize increased according to the multiple on the ball drawn – up to an impressive 10x. The only exception to this is if you match five numbers, when the increased prize is fixed at US $2 million.

Why is the cash option always a different percentage of the annuity from draw to draw?

If you’re calculating what percentage the cash value is of the annuity, then you’re looking at it backwards. The cash value is the starting point, as it is a direct percentage of ticket sales. Then the annuity amount is calculated from that, based on prevailing interest rates. Since the interest rates are constantly changing, the annuity amount calculated on one day will be a different number than if it is calculated the next day. So when a drawing occurs and the lottery has to estimate the next annuity jackpot, they first estimate the number of tickets that will be sold for the next drawing, which determines what the cash value estimate is (because a fixed percentage of each ticket sold goes toward prizes). Then they finally calculate what the annuity will be based on the current interest rates.

Types of Lottery Services

There are two types of online lottery services. The first is a messenger service which employs a specialist secure courier to buy the ticket on your behalf. A small fee is charged to buy the ticket but there are no commissions on any prizes whatsoever.

The second type of lottery service is where you bet on the outcome of the Powerball lottery. The odds, prizes and most importantly of all, the jackpot, are exactly the same. Large jackpots are covered by using sophisticated insurance models. The cost of the ticket is often exactly the same as the face value of the real Powerball ticket. Again, there are no commissions on any of your winnings. Whatever you win you get to keep all of it.

Powerball FAQ

To play Powerball, you’ll need to get a ticket. A Powerball ticket consists of five numbers and a sixth number designated as the Powerball number.

Each Wednesday and Saturday night, a drawing is held. If your ticket’s numbers match some or all of the numbers drawn, you’ll win a variable sum of money. The amount you win depends on how much you match, and if you match all 6 numbers, you’ll win the grand prize.

A single ticket costs $2. With each ticket purchased, it’s possible to add the Power Play option, which costs $1 more.

There are nine ways to win at Powerball, based on the number of matches you make and whether you match the specific Powerball number. They are as follows:

• Match all five numbers + the Powerball number – Jackpot
• Match all five numbers – $1,000,000
• Match four numbers + Powerball – $50,000
• Match four numbers – $100
• Match three numbers + Powerball – $100
• Match three numbers – $7
• Match two numbers + Powerball – $7
• Match one number + Powerball – $4
• Match Powerball – $4

An option called Power Play allows players to increase these values should they win.

Power Play is an option players can select that allows for an increase in non-jackpot prizes. In order to activate Power Play, players must pay $1 on top of the standard $2. A Power Play number of 2, 3, 4, 5 or (sometimes) 10 is generated at random for this ticket. If the ticket wins any prize below the $1,000,000 prize, the value is multiplied by the Power Play number. If the ticket wins the million dollar prize, that prize is doubled. The 10x Power Play number will only be a possibility when the jackpot is $150 million or lower. Please note that California doesn’t allow the Power Play option.

Yes, anyone can play Powerball regardless of whether he or she is a US Citizen or not. The caveat, however, is that a ticket must be purchased in the US to be valid. Services exist that will buy Powerball tickets in the US on behalf of foreign-located players. It’s important to research to make sure that the service you’re using is legitimate.

There is a 1 in 24.87 chance of winning a Powerball prize of some kind with each ticket, but the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338.

The full odds table is as follows:

• Five + Powerball – 1 in 292,201,338
• Five – 1 in 11,688,053.52
• Four + Powerball – 1 in 913,129.18
• Four – 1 in 36,525.16
• Three + Powerball – 1 in 14,494.11
• Three – 1 in 579.76
• Two + Powerball – 1 in 701.32
• One + Powerball – 1 in 91.97
• Powerball – 1 in 38.32

Yes, to play Powerball you must be 18 years of age or older.

U.S. citizens will pay federal taxes on prizes of more than $5,000, and most states also withhold their own tax from the prize amount.

Non-US residents should consult their country’s laws to determine what their tax liability may be.

If a Powerball drawing is held and no ticket sold matches all 5 numbers plus Powerball, the jackpot rolls over to the next drawing. Each time this happens, the jackpot grows larger and larger.

There’s no limit on how high the jackpot can grow, and multiple roll-overs can produce jackpots that grow by hundreds of millions of dollars each time.

If multiple tickets are sold for a drawing that match all 5 numbers plus Powerball, the jackpot will be split evenly between the winners.

In January of 2016, the jackpot reached $1.58 billion dollars. Three winning tickets were sold, meaning that a prize of $528.5 million was awarded to each of the three ticket holders.

The expiration date on a winning Powerball ticket depends on the state in which it was purchased. Each state has its own rules, ranging from 90 days to as much as a year after the drawing was held. You’d be encouraged to consult with lottery officials in the state in which the ticket was purchased to know when your ticket expires.

The cut-off point for buying a ticket varies from state to state. Generally, it’s from one hour to two hours before the drawing is held.