Powerball: rules of the game and frequently asked questions
How Powerball is played, how the prize tiers work and what this site offers, in brief. Only the operator's official rules are binding.
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Rules of the game
How is Powerball played?
Powerball is the largest lottery in the USA (45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), drawn every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm (New York). You play 5 numbers from 69 plus a Powerball from 1 to 26 (format since 7 October 2015). A play costs $2, Power Play (multiplier) $1 extra. Apart from the jackpot, all prizes are fixed amounts. Data: New York State open data (data.ny.gov), draws since 2010.
How does the Powerball work?
The Powerball is drawn separately from 1 to 26 (its own drum); you pick it yourself.
Winning
What are the odds of winning?
The chance of the top tier (5 matches + Powerball) is 1 in 292.201.338; the chance of winning anything is about 1 in 25. All tiers with their exact probability are on the Odds page.