Powerball is America’s biggest multi-state jackpot lottery, available in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jackpots start at $20 million and roll over until won (often reaching hundreds of millions or more). Drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from Tallahassee, Florida.
Participating Jurisdictions
Yes (45 states + territories): 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, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands.
No (cannot buy tickets): Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah. Residents of these states can purchase tickets only by traveling to a participating jurisdiction (tickets must be bought in the selling state).
(Note: A UK version launched in July 2026 with different pricing and rules; this guide covers the U.S. game.)
Ticket Cost
- Base play: $2 everywhere.
- Idaho & Montana: Power Play is automatically included → minimum $3 per play.
- California: No Power Play option (state law requires pari-mutuel lower-tier prizes).
- Optional add-ons (where available): +$1 for Power Play, +$1 for Double Play (both = $4 total).
How to Play Powerball (Same Core Rules Everywhere)
- Get a playslip at any authorized retailer (or use official state lottery apps/websites where available).
- Select 5 white-ball numbers from 1–69 and 1 red Powerball from 1–26.
Or mark Quick Pick (computer randomly selects). - Optional: Mark Power Play (+$1) to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
- Optional: Mark Double Play (+$1, available in select jurisdictions) for a second drawing with the same numbers.
- Choose multi-draw (advance play) — limits vary by state (commonly up to 10–26 draws; check local rules).
- Pay and receive your ticket. Tickets cannot be canceled once printed.
- Check results on your state lottery site/app, Powerball.com, or retailers after the draw.
Age requirements (most common): 18+. Exceptions include Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi (21+) and Nebraska (19+). Always confirm locally.
Sales cut-off: Typically 1–2 hours before the 10:59 p.m. ET drawing (varies by state — e.g., earlier on the West Coast).
Prizes & Odds (Standard Fixed Prizes)
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 | $1 million | 1 in 11,688,054 |
| 4 + Powerball | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129 |
| 4 | $100 | 1 in 36,525 |
| 3 + Powerball | $100 | 1 in 14,494 |
| 3 | $7 | 1 in 580 |
| 2 + Powerball | $7 | 1 in 701 |
| 1 + Powerball | $4 | 1 in 92 |
| Powerball only | $4 | 1 in 38 |
Overall odds of winning any prize: about 1 in 24.87.
California note: Lower-tier prizes are pari-mutuel (share the prize pool) instead of fixed amounts.
Jackpot winners choose annuity (30 graduated payments over 29 years) or cash option (lump sum, usually ~40–45% of the advertised annuity before taxes). Federal tax applies; most states also tax winnings.
Power Play® (Optional, +$1)
Available in all jurisdictions except California.
Multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, or 10× (10× only when advertised jackpot is $150 million or less).
Match 5 with Power Play is always $2 million.
In Idaho and Montana it is included automatically.
Double Play® (Optional, +$1 – Select Jurisdictions Only)
Your same numbers enter a second drawing (held shortly after the main Powerball draw) with a fixed top prize of $10 million (cash) plus eight lower cash prizes. Power Play does not apply to Double Play prizes.
Currently available in (~30 jurisdictions): Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Washington.
(More may join; confirm with your state lottery.)
Key State Variations & Tips
- Where to buy: Licensed retailers (convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, some pharmacies). Many states also offer official apps or courier services (e.g., Jackpocket in select states).
- Multi-draw limits & claim periods: Vary widely (claim windows are often 180 days to 1 year).
- Taxes & anonymity: Federal withholding applies; state tax rates and winner-privacy rules differ (some allow anonymity, others require public disclosure).
- Proceeds: More than half of ticket sales typically stay in the selling jurisdiction for education, infrastructure, or other public programs.
Responsible Play & Disclaimers
Must be of legal age. Play only what you can afford. Tickets are bearer instruments — sign the back immediately. Game rules, jackpots, add-on availability, and sales cut-offs can change. Always verify the latest details on your official state lottery website or Powerball.com before purchasing.
This single guide covers the uniform core game plus the main differences across all U.S. jurisdictions. For state-specific apps, retailer locators, or exact claim procedures, visit your state lottery’s official site. Good luck!