Powerball Numbers

Prize and Odds

Power Play Prizes

Power Play Odds

Schedule

10 Biggest Jackpots

Things to Know

Here’s a quick summary of the game.

• There are nine exciting ways to win the Powerball lottery.
• Eight of the Powerball prize categories are a fixed value, with the exception of California.
• Currently, the Powerball jackpot does not have a minimum starting value. The starting value of the jackpot depends entirely on ticket sales and interest rates.
• 48 jurisdictions participate in the Powerball lottery. This includes 45 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
• You must be 18 years old or older to play, with the following exceptions. In Louisiana, Iowa, and Arizona you must be 21 years or older and in Nebraska players must be 19 years or older.
• You can claim a Powerball jackpot prize as a lump sum or as an annuity payment over a certain amount of years.
• The advertised jackpot amount is always the annuity sum, before tax.
• The Power Play option was introduced to the game in 2001.

How to Play

• Pick five numbers from 1 to 69.
• Pick a Powerball number from 1 to 26.
• You have the option to add Power Play for an extra $1.
• Check if you’ve won.

Ticket Cost

• $2 per play
• $1 to add Power Play

History

Powerball is one of the most well-known games in the U.S., regularly boasting up to 10-figure jackpots.

End of 1987

West Virginia, Iowa, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Oregon, Kansas and Missouri formed the Multi-State Lottery Association.

February 1988

Launched in 1988, under the name Lotto*America.

August 1989 – January 1991

Eight more states joined the game: Wisconsin, Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, Indiana, South Dakota, Kentucky, and Delaware.

April 1992

Renamed to Powerball.

New game format: 5/45 + 1/45.

Starting jackpot is now $2 million.

First official Powerball draw took place on April 22.

April 1994 – October 1996

Six more states joined the game: Arizona, Nebraska, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New Mexico.

November 1997

New game format: 5/49 + 1/42.

Starting jackpot increases to $10 million.

Annuity increases from 20 to 29 years.

Lump Sum Cash option is added

March 2001

Power Play feature is added - a wheel with 12 slots.

Available multipliers ranging from 1x to 5x.

August 2001 – June 2002

Colorado and Pennsylvania joined the game.

October 2002

New game format: 5/53 + 1/42.

Power Play wheel has 15 slots.

South Carolina joined the game.

July 2003 – July 2004

Four more states joined the game: Vermont, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Maine.

August 2005

New game format: 5/55 + 1 /42.

Starting jackpot increases to $15 million.

Power Play wheel uploaded to 16 slots.

January 2006 – May 2006

Oklahoma and North Carolina joined the game.

January 2009

New game format: 5/59 + 1/39.

Starting jackpot increases to $20 million.

Power Play drawn using a Random Number Generator.

Florida joined the game.

October 2009 – November 2010

13 more states joined the game: Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Massachusetts, Ohio, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

January 2012

New game format: 5/69 + 1/35.

Starting jackpot increases to $40 million.

Match 5 prize category is now $1 million.

April 2013 – September 2014

Two more states and an additional jurisdiction joined the game: California, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.

October 2015

New game format: 5/69 + 1/26.

4 + 1 prize category prize is now $50,000.

10x Power Ball multiplier added to jackpots under $150 million.

January 2016

$1.586 billion Powerball jackpot sets world record for largest jackpot.

January 2020

Mississippi joined the game.

March 2020

Starting jackpot decreases to $20 million.

Minimum roll increase between drawings set to $2 million.

April 2020

Starting jackpot and minimum jackpot roll increase between drawings are removed. They now depend entirely on ticket sales and interest rates.