How to Play Powerball
Playing Powerball is easy. You must select five main numbers from 1 to 69, followed by a Powerball from 1 to 26. You can also add Power Play to your ticket if you want to increase any payouts you might win, while Double Play is also available in some states. Powerball drawings take place on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
The step-by-step guide below shows you how to play Powerball:
Select your numbers
Choose five main numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball from a separate set of 1 to 26. You don't even have to select your own numbers. A Quick Pick, also known as an Easy Pick in some states, is a way to get random numbers in an instant.
Decide on Power Play
Select the Power Play option if you want to boost the value of any non-jackpot prizes you win. A Power Play multiplier is drawn at random – 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x (or possibly 10x when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less).
Choose how many drawings to play
You can purchase a ticket for just the next drawing, or enter multiple consecutive draws. If you play several in a row, it means you don't have to keep remembering to buy a new ticket for those future draws.
Pay for your entries
It costs $2 for a single play on Powerball, plus an additional $1 if you are including Power Play on your ticket. If you're playing in a store, remember to keep your entry safe until the drawing takes place. Go to the Numbers page to see the Powerball results as soon as they are available.
Specific rules are also laid out by each state lottery so may differ depending on where you play. These include the cut-off time for purchasing tickets (although this is usually one to two hours before the 10:59pm EST draw time) and how many consecutive drawings you are allowed to enter.
Take a look at the Participating States page to find out everything you need to know about playing in your location.
How to Play Powerball Double Play
Double Play is an add-on game that is currently available in less than half of the participating Powerball states. It gives your Powerball numbers another chance to win prizes, including a jackpot of $10 million. To take part, you just have to select the Double Play option and pay an extra $1. Go to the Double Play page to learn more about how it works and where it is offered.
How to Win Powerball
To win the Powerball jackpot, you must match all six of the winning numbers that are randomly selected in the drawing for which you have a ticket. You can also win prizes by matching fewer numbers. In fact, you'll win a prize if you match the red Powerball even if you don't match any of the white main numbers. The prizes increase in value as you match more numbers, and the jackpot is worth at least $20 million.
If you win a prize and you've added Power Play to your ticket, your payout will be even larger. The prize will be increased by the number of the Power Play multiplier that is drawn. The only exceptions are the jackpot, which cannot be multiplied, and the second prize for matching five main numbers without the Powerball. This is always doubled to $2 million regardless of the value of the multiplier.
Visit the Powerball Odds page to find out more about the chances of winning in each category, plus the prizes you can win.
How to Claim Prizes
The method for claiming prizes depends on a number of factors, including where you purchased your ticket and how much you have won. You can usually receive winnings of up to $599 from lottery retailers, but for larger amounts you will need to visit a regional prize office or claim by mail. The claim period is also different depending on your location. Head over to the How to Claim page for more information about what you need to do.
