How to Play Powerball

Powerball tickets are available to buy from any authorised retailer in the 45 participating states, as well as the jurisdictions of Washington D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

You can play Powerball by visiting authorised retailers in the US and following these steps:

Collect a Powerball playslip from an authorised retailer in any one of the participating states or jurisdictions
Choose five main numbers between 1 and 69 on the playslip
Choose one Powerball number between 1 and 26
Alternatively, you can choose the Quick Pick option to have your numbers picked for you at random
Repeat the above steps for each line of numbers you want to play. A single line costs $2 for one draw
Pick how many draws you would like to enter in advance (if available)
Decide whether you want to add Power Play to your ticket for an extra $1 per line
Pay the retailer for your ticket, sign it and keep it in a safe and secure place until after the draw
You must purchase your ticket by the cut-off time in your state. This can vary from 10 p.m. EST in New York and Florida to 6:45 p.m. PST in Washington
Visit the Numbers page after the draw has taken place to find out if you’re a winner

Next Estimated jackpot:

$171m

Time until draw:

Buy Tickets

If you want to purchase Powerball tickets online, follow these simple steps:

Choose your numbers Online
Decide whether you want to enter one draw or multiple draws
Choose five main numbers between 1 and 69 on the online playslip
Choose one Powerball between 1 and 26 on the online playslip
Alternatively, choose the Easy Pick option for your numbers to be randomly picked for you
Repeat the above steps for each line of numbers you want to play. A single line costs $2 for one draw
Press Add to Cart once you are happy with your numbers
Sign in to your online account or create a free account if you don’t already have one
Pay for your tickets in the shopping cart by following the check-out instructions
Visit the Numbers page after the draw has taken place or check your online account to find out if you’re a winner

Powerball draws are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays in Tallahassee, Florida, at approximately 22:59 EST. The Monday draw was introduced from August 23, 2021.

How to Win Prizes

Two machines provide a total of six lottery numbers on the night of a Powerball draw. The first machine contains white balls and is used for the five main Powerball numbers, and the second machine is used for the additional red Powerball number. The same number can come up as both a main number and a Powerball number because they are drawn from two separate machines.

You can win Powerball prizes if the numbers you picked online or offline match the ones dispensed from the two lottery machines. The jackpot can be won by matching all five main numbers and the Powerball number, and prizes start from matching just the Powerball number. You can find more information about the nine prize tiers available on the Prizes page.

Playing the Power Play Bonus

The Power Play bonus costs an extra $1 per line and can be added by ticking the relevant box when purchasing your playslip in your local shop. It is available to play in all participating states, except California, and the value of the Power Play multiplier is selected in a separate draw before the main Powerball draw takes place.

In Idaho and Montana, Power Play is automatically included and the cost of a single play is $3.

If you opt to play the Power Play bonus, it can offer an additional multiplier of 2x, 3x, 4x or 5x to any non-jackpot prizes you win, and a 10x multiplier if the jackpot is under $150 million. The jackpot isn’t affected by Power Play, and the Match 5 prize always increases to $2 million regardless of which Power Play multiplier is drawn.

Double Play

You can also add a feature known as Double Play when playing Powerball in some jurisdictions. If it’s available in your state, add the option to your ticket for an extra $1 per line. When it gets round to draw night, a Double Play drawing will take place just after the main game. If your numbers come up, you could win up to $10 million.

Ticket Cut-Off Times

Ticket sales for Powerball close around one hour before a draw, but cut-off times can vary from state to state. You should clarify the exact times with your state lottery provider.

How to Claim Prizes

Claiming prizes in-store depends on the state you played in and the size of your winnings, and you can only claim your winning tickets in the state they were purchased from. You should contact your state’s lottery office for more details.

In-store prizes worth up to $599 can generally be claimed from authorised retailers, whilst winnings worth $600 and over can be collected from state lottery claim centres. These prizes can also be collected by mail. If you’re a jackpot winner, you must contact your state lottery to receive your winnings.

The claim period is different in certain states and jurisdictions. Find out more details on the How to Claim page.