Powerball is a popular lottery game played in the United States, administered by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). Players select five white numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26.
The drawing is held twice weekly, on Wednesday and Saturday nights, and the winning numbers are randomly selected.
The jackpot for Powerball starts at $20 million and increases with each drawing until someone is awarded the top prize. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million, making it one of the most challenging lotteries to win.
Powerball can be played in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Even if you don’t win the jackpot, other smaller prizes are available for matching some of the numbers.
Do You Win if You Get 2 Numbers on Powerball?
The only way to win money on Powerball with two numbers is to match the red ball, the “Powerball,” and one of the white balls. Achieving this outcome awards $4 or whatever amount is assigned to the ticket’s multiplier. Anyone who matches only two white balls will not win anything.
A ticket that matches only the Powerball wins the same amount as one that matches a single white ball and the last number drawn.
You can choose the Power Play option for your ticket by spending an extra dollar. If the Power Play is 2x, you’ll receive $8 instead of $4 with this match.
There is a 10x option when the jackpot is $150 million or less. If that happens and you match the Powerball and one other, you’ll have a $40 ticket.
What Are the Different Ways I Can Win Playing Powerball?
When you purchase a Powerball ticket, there are nine different ways to win some money. Here is a closer look at the different prize tiers and their odds when playing this lottery game.
- Jackpot. Match all five white balls and the red Powerball to win the jackpot. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 1 in 292 million.
- Match 5 and Power Play. You can match all five white balls to win $1 million. However, if you added the Power Play option to your ticket, your prize will be multiplied by the Power Play number, which could increase your winnings up to 10 times. The odds of winning this prize are approximately 1 in 11.7 million.
- Match 4 and Powerball. When you achieve this result, you will match four white balls and the red Powerball to win $50,000. The odds of winning this prize are approximately 1 in 913,000.
- Match 4 and Power Play. The odds of winning this prize are approximately 1 in 36,000 to 1 in 913,000, depending on the Power Play number drawn. You win with four white balls and the red Powerball.
- Match 3 and Powerball. Match three white balls and the red Powerball to win $100. The odds of winning this prize are approximately 1 in 14,500.
- Match 3 and Power Play. If you match three white balls and the red Powerball and have the Power Play option on your ticket to win $200 to $2,000, depending on the Power Play number drawn. The odds of winning this prize are approximately 1 in 580 to 1 in 14,500, depending on the draw.
- Match 2 and Powerball. If you match two white balls with the Powerball, you’ll win $7. The odds of this price are 1 in 701.
- Match the Powerball. You can match the Powerball alone or with one white ball to win $4. The odds for this result are about 1 in 38.
Although the Powerball sales system tracks where winning tickets are sold, it is up to each player to verify their numbers.
If you have a winning ticket, you’ll need to submit it for review by a specific deadline or risk forfeiting your prize, including the jackpot.
How Many People Win the Powerball Each Year?
The number of Powerball winners each year can vary widely, as it depends on factors such as the size of the jackpots and the number of people playing the game.
Generally, the odds of winning any Powerball prize are relatively low compared to other games of chance. You’re more likely to win money on a lottery scratch ticket than you are with this drawing.
According to the MUSL, in FY 2021, there were a total of 16 jackpot-winning Powerball tickets sold, with a combined total jackpot value of $3.7 billion. In addition, there were over 18 million other Powerball prizes awarded during that fiscal year, ranging from $4 to $2 million, depending on the prize tier and whether the Power Play option was used.
Playing the lottery should always be viewed as a form of entertainment rather than as a reliable way to make money. The chances of winning the jackpot or any other prize are meager, and it’s important to play responsibly and within your means.
How to Purchase a Powerball Ticket
You can purchase a Powerball ticket from an authorized lottery retailer in one of the participating states or jurisdictions. Here are the steps to follow.
Find an Authorized Retailer
One of the easiest ways to find where Powerball tickets are sold is at a list of authorized retailers in your state or jurisdiction. There might be an automatic station available where you can pay by debit or credit card.
Some stores still require you to fill out paper tickets to get the specific numbers you want. Another option is to request a “Quick Pick,” which allows the clerk to print out a random set of numbers from the system.
Select Your Preferred Numbers
Choose five numbers between 1 and 69 for the white balls and one number between 1 and 26 for the red Powerball. You can choose your own numbers or opt for a Quick Pick, which will randomly generate a set of numbers for you.
If you purchase multiple tickets, a Quick Pick can cause your Powerball or the white ball numbers to be duplicate choices. Players like the convenience of it, but it might not maximize your playing options.
Decide to Add Power Play
For an additional $1 per play, you can add the Power Play option, which can increase your non-jackpot winnings up to 10 times. This number is drawn separately from the main game.
Buy the Ticket
Give your completed play slip and payment to the retailer and receive your ticket in return unless you’ve requested a Quick Pick.
Make sure to double-check your numbers and the drawing date on the ticket to ensure the information is accurate.
Keep the Ticket Safe
Sign the back of your ticket and keep it in a safe place until the drawing. You will need it to claim any winnings.
How to Claim My Powerball Winnings
If you have a winning Powerball ticket, congratulations! Here are the steps you should follow to claim your prize.
- Sign the back of your ticket as soon as you receive it to help prevent anyone else from claiming your prize if it is lost or stolen.
- Check the Powerball website, your local newspaper, or the lottery retailer to confirm that your numbers match the winning numbers for the drawing.
- If you have matched all the winning numbers for the jackpot or any of the other prize tiers, you can claim your prize. The amount depends on the number of winning tickets and the jackpot’s size.
- To claim your prize, you need to present your winning ticket to an authorized lottery retailer or lottery office in the state where you purchased the ticket. If the prize amount is over a certain threshold (which varies by state), you may need to claim your prize in person at a lottery office and provide additional identification.
- Once your ticket is verified, you will receive your prize in the form of a check or electronic funds transfer. Depending on the size of your award, taxes may be withheld, or you may need to pay them on your winnings when filing for the year with the IRS.
Some states allow lottery winners to remain anonymous, while others require the winner’s name and photo to be released to the public. If you prefer to keep your identity private, check the rules in your state.
The deadline to claim a Powerball prize also varies by state. Some people delay claiming a jackpot to ensure their financial affairs are in order first. For everyone else, it is essential to declare what you’ve won as soon as possible.
What Is the Powerball Lump Sum?
The Powerball lump sum is the cash value of the Powerball jackpot, which is the amount of money that the winner would receive if they chose to receive their winnings in a one-time payment instead of annual installments over several years.
This amount is calculated by taking the total jackpot amount and subtracting the estimated value of the annuity payments that would be made over the course of 29 years (30 annual payments, with the first payment being made immediately).
The resulting amount is the estimated cash value of the jackpot. The actual amount is often lower than the estimation since it is subject to deductions and taxes.
Why Won’t Two White Numbers Win a Powerball Prize?
Lotteries are set up like casino games. Although some people make money, a lot of players lose their stake. There wouldn’t be enough to create large and exciting jackpots if winnings were available for simple matches. That’s why a Powerball match with one white ball is a winner, but two white balls are not.
There are two games in the past decade where I haven’t won at all. One of them is Uno, and the other is Powerball.
I like to play Powerball when the prize money reaches more than $500 million. I don’t know why I chose that arbitrary figure, beyond the fact that it feels like a lot of cash.
Even when the Powerball lottery jackpot reached $1 billion, and I bought 20 tickets, I didn’t win anything. Most of them didn’t even match a single number.
The most important thing to remember is to play within your means. Although Powerball is an affordable way to get a chance at a big prize, the odds are not in your favor. You’re more likely to get struck by lightning while using the toilet inside than to become an overnight multi-millionaire.
If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll match two balls – and one will be the Powerball so that you can get some extra cash.
