What You Need to Know to Win Powerball

How do you play Powerball? 

To play Powerball, simply fill in a playslip at any authorized retailer in a participating state.  On your playslip, select five main numbers between 1 and 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26 or, if you prefer, you can let the computer generate a random line for you with a Quick Pick. Once you are happy with your numbers, you also have the option to add the supplementary Power Play by marking ‘Yes’ on the playslip. 

Power Play multiplies any non-jackpot winnings by a multiple of 2, 3, 4 or 5, and it can even multiply it by 10 when the jackpot is less than $150 million. The size of the multiplier for a draw is randomly selected before the main Powerball game takes place and everyone who opted in receives the same boost to their prizes. The second tier prize only ever doubles to $2 million, no matter which Power Play number is drawn.  
The Power Play option is not available in California, where prizes must be determined by ticket sales and the number of winners, according to state law. You can learn more about Power Play on the dedicated page.   

There are six states that don’t currently participate in Powerball: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah. Residents of these states can purchase Powerball tickets in neighboring states where Powerball is played, although you must return to the state in which you bought the ticket to claim a prize. 

How many numbers do you need to match to win the jackpot? 

To win the Powerball jackpot, players must match all five main numbers and the Powerball. You do not have to match the main numbers in the order they were drawn, but it is worth remembering that the main numbers and Powerball are from separate pools, so you cannot count the Powerball as a match with your main numbers, or one of your main numbers as the Powerball.

If you miss out on the Powerball number, you could be in with a chance of winning a second-tier prize. Second-tier prizes are awarded for matching five main numbers correctly and prizes range from $1 million on a regular Powerball ticket to $2 million if you added the Power Play option to your slip. Find out more about prizes awarded in each tier on the Prizes page. 

What are the odds of winning?

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338 and the odds of winning a Match 5 prize are 1 in 11,688,054. The overall odds for winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9 and the Prizes page has the full list of odds for every tier. 

How can I find out if I’ve won a Powerball prize?
 
You can check your Powerball numbers for the latest drawing as well as the previous 180 days by using the Powerball Number Checker, which flags up the draws in which your numbers have won a prize. You can also find out if you’re a Powerball winner by visiting an authorized retailer. 

If you want to check the winning numbers online, you can view the latest Powerball numbers and information about winners on the dedicated page.