How many numbers do you need to win a prize in Powerball?
The jackpot varies depending on when the last time was that somebody won the jackpot. There are smaller amounts up for grabs if not all your numbers come up.
When is the next Powerball draw and where can you buy tickets?
The next Powerball jackpot drawing takes place at 11 p.m. ET Wednesday, May 31.
The estimated jackpot now stands at $239 million, with a cash value of $121.5 million.
How to play Powerball
A regular Powerball ticket costs $2. To play, you must pick five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball number from 1 to 26.
If the six numbers you choose match those drawn, you win the jackpot. Steadily smaller prizes are also available if some, but not all, of your numbers come up (see below).
Power Play, Double Play
For an extra $1, you can add what’s called a Power Play. This multiplies winnings by two, three, four, five or 10, depending on the multiplier number picked out of the hat before the draw itself takes place.
Power Play isn’t applied to the jackpot, however, and the multiplier is never higher than two if you win the $1m second prize.
In some states - Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Washington - you can also pay $1 for a so-called Double Play. This option sees players’ numbers added to a second draw after the Powerball draw, with a maximum cash prize of $10m.
How much can you win in the next jackpot?
- Five numbers + Powerball: jackpot
- Five numbers: $1m
- Four numbers + Powerball: $50,000
- Four numbers: $100
- Three numbers + Powerball: $100
- Three numbers: $7
- Two numbers + Powerball: $7
- One number + Powerball: $4
- Powerball: $4
Why are there two jackpot figures?
Winners of the Powerball jackpot can choose to receive their money as an up-front lump sum, or in annual payments spread out over 29 years.
If they opt for the latter, known as the ‘annuity option’, they get the jackpot in full, in steadily rising payouts. In the case of Saturday’s draw, the payments would increase from just over $2.5m to around $10.5m.
If they go for the lump sum, they get the smaller ‘cash value’ figure.
Explaining the difference between the two jackpot amounts, the Powerball organisers say: “The annuity is invested in government bonds over 29 years, allowing payments to increase by 5% each year.”
Remember that winnings are pre-tax.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
According to Lottery USA, a single ticket has a one in 292,201,338 chance of matching five numbers and the Powerball. Your odds of getting five numbers without the Powerball are 11,688,053.52 to one.
Where can you play Powerball?
Currently, the following states, territories and federal districts participate in Powerball: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.