
POWERBALL® is one of the most popular multi-state Lottery games in the United States. In a chance-based draw game, you have the potential to win large jackpots that can reach hundreds of millions of dollars if you choose to participate.
Drawings are held three times a week, on a Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Depending on the state, you can purchase POWERBALL tickets online, at a Lottery vending machine, or authorized retailers.
What states host POWERBALL© games?
The POWERBALL® Lottery is available in 45 states, from West Virginia and the District of Columbia to Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Below is a complete list of states where you can purchase tickets if you wish to participate in the draw:
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
- Wisconsin
- Washington
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Texas
- Tennessee
- South Dakota
- South Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Pennsylvania
- Oregon
- Oklahoma
- Ohio
- North Dakota
- North Carolina
- New York
- New Mexico
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Nebraska
- Montana
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Louisiana
- Kentucky
- Kansas
- Iowa
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Idaho
- Georgia
- Florida
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- California
- Arkansas
- Arizona
How to play POWERBALL©
If you’re in any of the states listed and meet the legal requirements, you’ll be able to participate in POWERBALL© draws. But how?
You can purchase your ticket from a local retailer, Lottery vending machine, or even online in some states.
To play, you’ll need to select six numbers in total:
- Five white balls: Choose five numbers from one to 69.
- One red POWERBALL©: Choose one number from one to 26.
If you don’t want to choose numbers manually, you can use the Quick Pick option, which allows the system to generate the numbers for you randomly.
You’ll then have the option is add the ‘Power Play’ option. This means that if you win a non-jackpot prize, Power Play will increase the prize amount.
For example, if you win the second-tier prize by matching five white balls, but not the POWERBALL©, the prize is automatically multiplied to $2 million. Or, for other non-jackpot prizes, Power Play can multiply winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x, depending on the multiplier drawn.
It’s important to note that the 10x multiplier is only available when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.
Check the draw schedule
With drawings three times a week, you’ll want to make sure you purchase your ticket before the cut-off time, which varies by state.
Once the draw takes place, you can view the live drawing on TV, check the official POWERBALL© website or mobile app, or visit your local state Lottery website or app and see the live draw results unfold.
Understanding the results
There are nine different ways to potentially win POWERBALL©. For the jackpot, you’ll need to match five white balls and one POWERBALL©.
Other ways to win include matching five white balls, four white balls and one POWERBALL©, four white balls, three white balls and one POWERBALL©, three white balls, two white balls and one POWERBALL©, one white ball and one POWERBALL©, or just the POWERBALL©.
To claim any winnings, you’ll need to check your state’s Lottery rules, deadlines and procedures. For smaller winnings, you can claim directly from a Lottery retailer. For jackpot prizes, you’ll need to file a claim with your state Lottery. You can choose between a lump-sum cash option or an annuity paid over 30 years.
—
However, you decide to play POWERBALL©, make sure you stick to your limits and play responsibly.