How to Play Powerball
How many lotteries need no introduction? Very few! Powerball is certainly one of them.
The Powerball drawing is held (and broadcast live) every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET. A standard entry of 1 line costs $2. By marking the optional Power Play checkbox in your entry for an additional $1, you can increase the payout of non-jackpot prizes by two, three, four, five, or ten. Tickets must be purchased before the draws take place to ensure you’ll participate in the upcoming draw.
Grabbing headlines with its massive jackpots, including the world’s largest jackpot ever claimed, the $2.04 billion jackpot won in November 2022, Powerball is played across 45 states and its impressive prize pool has excited players worldwide for more than 30 years!
In this article, you’ll learn how to play Powerball, about different features in the Powerball play slip and more.
Table of Contents
Powerball Rules & How It Works
The Powerball drawing uses two machines to generate numbers. To participate in a draw, follow these steps:
Step 1: Fill Out A Powerball Entry
Select five main numbers from 1 to 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26.
* Each line costs $2 per play, fill out up to 5 lines in each play slip (add $1 to activate the Power Play multiplier). Instead of doing this manually, you can choose the Quick Pick option and have the terminal pick the numbers for you.
Step 2: Activate The Power Play Option
For another $1, you can activate the Power Play multiplier for a chance at multiplying your non-jackpot prizes.
Step 3: Wait For The Results
Did you win? You can also watch the live broadcasts to stay tuned.
Powerball Game Features
Power Play
On March 7, 2001, the ‘Power Play’ option was added to the Powerball play slips. By adding $1 per game, the Power Play checkbox in your entry multiplies non-jackpot prizes by up to 5. When the advertised jackpot is at $150 million or lower, the Power Play can also be a 10x multiplier. The Power Play number is randomly selected before each draw, and multiplies the second prize by two regardless of the Power Play number.
Double Play
Moreover, players in select jurisdictions can also order tickets for the Powerball Double Play option. Power Double Play is a separate second drawing, held 30 minutes after the main one and uses the same numbers in your entry, except in this drawing the first prize division is capped at $10 million.
Multi-Draw/Auto-Play
In addition to the above, when you enter lottery games online, the playslips may offer the Multi-Draw and/or Auto-Play option. These enable players to secure their participation in consecutive draws (usually from 4 to 50 draws in advance) by simply checking the corresponding box in their entry. Players who prefer a ‘pay-as-they-go’ approach can Subscribe for consecutive drawings by choosing the Subscription option and get every 10th ticket for free.
How Do You Win The Jackpot In Powerball?
Players must match all six numbers to win the jackpot prize: the five white balls (1-69), and the one red Powerball number (1-26).
The jackpot prize starts at $20 million and grows until there’s a winner, thus creating especially hyped draws when the jackpots ascend to billions or other impressive amounts when they rollover. Powerball offers eight additional prize tiers, so there are various ways to win cash prizes.
The jackpot winners choose whether they want to claim the prize as a lump sum payment or annuities. If there are several jackpot winners in a draw, the jackpot is divided equally among them.
Check Powerball Results
Powerball has nine prize-divisions. While the odds to match the jackpot aren’t easy, you can also win secondary prizes for partial matches. If you wonder how many numbers you need to win a prize in Powerball, check the payout table below or head to the Powerball results page and see whether your lucky numbers earned you some money. Each draw is broadcast live from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee at 10:59 pm ET – you can also find the winning numbers there or on the official site.
Powerball Payout Chart
Wondering about your chances of winning Powerball? Whether you’re curious about the odds of winning Powerball, what happens if you only match two numbers, understanding Powerball’s mechanics is key. Let’s break down the odds & prize amounts so you know exactly what to expect when you order Powerball tickets online!
| Match | Prize | Odds |
| 5 numbers + Powerball | Jackpot Prize | 1 in 292,201,338.00 |
| 5 numbers | $1,000,000 | 1 in 11,688,053.52 |
| 4 numbers + Powerball | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129.18 |
| 4 numbers | $100 | 1 in 36,525.17 |
| 3 numbers + Powerball | $100 | 1 in 14,494.11 |
| 3 numbers | $7 | 1 in 579.76 |
| 2 numbers + Powerball | $7 | 11 in 701.33 |
| 1 numbers + Powerball | $4 | 1 in 91.98 |
| Powerball only | $4 | 1 in 38.32 |
* The odds presented above reflect a $2 play.
** Non jackpot-prizes can be multiplied by the Power Play number drawn, but only for players who marked this option when purchasing their entry.
*** The payout amounts displayed are the default amounts, not Power Play prizes.
Can You Buy Powerball Tickets Online?
To order lottery tickets online for the US lottery – Powerball, Mega Millions and state lotteries, follow these steps:
- Create your account at TheLotter US or TheLotter US app.
- Verify your information.
- Add your payment method.
- Fill out the entry form for Powerball. Best to fill out your entry before the ticket sales close.
- Add Power Play to increase lower-tier prizes.
- Confirm your order.
- After your ticket order is fulfilled by our agents, find its scanned copy in your online account.
Claim Your Winnings at TheLotter US
When you win a Powerball jackpot, you have the option to receive the prize as an annuity or a lump sum payment. Here’s what you need to know:
- Annuity: The annuity option pays out the prize amount over 20 years, with annual payments increasing by 5% each year. This option provides a steady income stream over time.
- Lump sum payment: The lump sum payment option pays out the cash value of the annuity prize in a single payment. This option provides a large upfront payment, but you’ll need to pay taxes on the entire amount.
- Consider your financial goals and circumstances when deciding between these options. Consulting with a financial advisor can help you make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term plans.
How Many States Play Powerball?
Powerball is a multi-state game played in 45 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
Powerball Tips
- Choose your numbers wisely: You can select your own numbers or use Quick Pick to randomly generate numbers.
- Add Power Play: The Power Play option can multiply your non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
- Check your ticket: Always verify your ticket for errors and confirm your numbers.
- Get notified when you win via email and receive your winnings, commission free (state and federal taxes apply).
- Don’t overspend: Set a budget and stick to it to avoid overspending on lottery tickets.
