American lottery with jackpots starting at $20 million. Pick 5 numbers from 1-69 and 1 Powerball from 1-26.
Country
USA
Format
Pick 5 from 1-69 + 1 Powerball from 1-26
Draw Schedule
Powerball draws take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM Eastern Time
Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). Known for its massive jackpots that regularly exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, Powerball is played across 45 US states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The game was first introduced in 1992 and has since created some of the largest lottery prizes in history, including a record-breaking $2.04 billion jackpot in November 2022. Powerball draws take place three times a week, giving players multiple opportunities to win life-changing prizes.
To play Powerball, select 5 main numbers from a pool of 1 to 69, plus 1 Powerball number from a separate pool of 1 to 26. You can choose your own numbers or use a Quick Pick for randomly generated selections. Each play costs $2. For an additional $1, you can add the Power Play option, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or even 10x (when the jackpot is under $150 million). To win the jackpot, you must match all 5 main numbers plus the Powerball.
Powerball draws take place every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM Eastern Time. Results are typically available within minutes of the draw. The cut-off time for purchasing tickets varies by state but is generally 1-2 hours before the draw.
Powerball has 9 prize tiers. The jackpot (matching 5+PB) starts at $20 million and grows with each rollover. Second prize (5 main numbers, no Powerball) pays $1 million. Other prizes range from $4 for matching just the Powerball to $50,000 for matching 4 numbers plus the Powerball. With Power Play, all non-jackpot prizes are multiplied.
Consider joining a lottery pool to increase your number of entries without spending more. Powerball numbers above 31 are played less frequently (many players use birthdays), so choosing higher numbers may reduce the chance of splitting a jackpot. Always check your tickets promptly, as prizes must be claimed within a set period that varies by state.
Powerball began on April 19, 1992, replacing the Lotto America game. The format has changed several times. In 2012, the ticket price doubled from $1 to $2. In October 2015, the main number pool expanded from 59 to 69, while the Powerball pool shrank from 35 to 26, making jackpots harder to win but larger. In August 2021, a third weekly drawing was added on Monday.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292,201,338. This makes it one of the hardest lotteries to win, but also one with the largest jackpots.
A standard Powerball ticket costs $2 per play. Adding the Power Play option costs an additional $1, bringing the total to $3 per play.
Power Play is an optional add-on that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x. The 10x multiplier is only available when the jackpot is $150 million or less.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM Eastern Time.
Some states allow online Powerball purchases through their official lottery websites or apps. Availability varies by state, so check your local lottery authority.
The claim period varies by state, typically ranging from 90 days to one year from the draw date. Check with your state lottery for specific deadlines.