The Mechanics of Fortune: How to Play
Powerball is a multi-jurisdictional lottery game that orchestrates institutionalized fortune across 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To participate in this synergistic wealth accumulation event, players select five numbers from a pool of 1 to 69 (the white balls) and one singular Powerball from a pool of 1 to 26 (the red ball).
1. Select Numbers
Choose 5 white ball numbers and 1 red Powerball. Or opt for 'Quick Pick' for random generation.
2. Power Play
Add the Power Play® for $1 to multiply non-jackpot winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x.
3. Double Play
In select jurisdictions, add Double Play for a second drawing with a $10 million top prize.
The Architecture of Rewards: Prize Tiers
Leveraging probabilistic variances, the Powerball prize structure is divided into nine distinct tiers, offering a spectrum of institutional rewards from $4 to multi-billion dollar jackpots.
| Match | Base Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 White + Powerball | Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 White | $1,000,000 | 1 in 11,688,053 |
| 4 White + Powerball | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129 |
| 4 White | $100 | 1 in 36,525 |
| 3 White + Powerball | $100 | 1 in 14,494 |
| 3 White | $7 | 1 in 579 |
| 2 White + Powerball | $7 | 1 in 701 |
| 1 White + Powerball | $4 | 1 in 91 |
| Powerball Only | $4 | 1 in 38 |
The Path to Prosperity: Annuity vs. Cash
Upon securing a jackpot victory, winners must choose their fiscal destiny. The Annuity Option provides 30 graduated payments over 29 years, growing by 5% annually to protect against inflation. Alternatively, the Cash Option delivers a single lump-sum payment equivalent to the actual cash in the jackpot pool.
Drawing Logistics
To optimize your participation, observe the official drawing schedule conducted at the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee:
- Mondays (10:59 PM ET)
- Wednesdays (10:59 PM ET)
- Saturdays (10:59 PM ET)