Powerball Participating States

Joined

Apr 4, 1994

Jackpot winners

14

Tax

4.8%

Arizona has created a number of big winners, including Matthew Good, a manager at an electronics company who claimed half of a $587 million jackpot in 2012. Good was unable to stay anonymous despite saying that he would have ‘cherished privacy’, but state law has since changed to allow winners of prizes of $100,000 or more to keep their identities a secret. You must be at least 21 years old to play Powerball in Arizona.

Joined

Oct 31, 2009

Jackpot winners

1

Tax

4.7%

The Arkansas Lottery has raised more than $780 million for college scholarships since it launched in 2009, and sales of Powerball tickets have been a huge driver of that success. The Natural State did not have to wait long for a jackpot winner either, with Harold Bailey snapping up a $25 million prize in January 2010, less than three months after the game became available.

Joined

Apr 8, 2013

Jackpot winners

15

Tax

0%

California can lay claim to having the biggest Powerball winner of all time, after a ticket bought at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena turned out to be worth $2.04 billion in the record draw in November 2022. The winner was revealed to be Edwin Castro. California is the only state that does not offer the Power Play option, because state law dictates that lottery prizes must be paid on a pari-mutuel basis. This means that payouts in California are not fixed and differ to other states because the number of winners and tickets sold is taken into account.

Joined

Aug 2, 2001

Jackpot winners

3

Tax

4%

The Colorado Lottery is focused on raising money to preserve the natural beauty of the state’s landscape. All profits from ticket sales go towards the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, the Conservation Trust Fund and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Powerball has been played in the state since 2001 and big winners have included Judy Finchum from Clifton, who banked $133 million with a ticket she bought at a convenience store called Lucky Me in Grand Junction. Colorado is one of the states to offer Double Play.

Joined

Nov 28, 1995

Jackpot winners

9

Tax

6.99%

You can ask for a ‘replay’ in Connecticut - just hand an old ticket to a retailer and you will be given a fresh one using the same numbers. When you buy a ticket, 62 percent of the money will be used to pay prizes, with six percent paying retailer commissions and five percent used to cover operating expenses. The remaining 27 percent is given to the General Fund to help support vital services such as health and education.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

10

Tax

6.6%

You can stay anonymous if you win lottery prizes in Delaware, and many of the state’s luckiest players have taken this opportunity to keep their identities private. A couple from neighbouring Pennsylvania were even able to claim their $121 million jackpot in secret in 2016 after crossing over the border to buy a ticket. Delaware has offered Powerball since it launched in 1992 in place of the original Lotto America.

Joined

Jan 4, 2009

Jackpot winners

17

Tax

0%

As well as staging the Powerball draws, Florida has also been the scene of some of the game’s biggest wins. Gloria MacKenzie, from Zephyrhills, once laid claim to being the largest winner of them all thanks to her $590 million payout back in 2013. David Kaltschmidt and Maureen Smith, of Melbourne Beach, pocketed $528 million after splitting a record $1.58 billion jackpot with two other tickets in January 2016. Luckily for winners in Florida, they don’t have to pay state tax either! You can add Double Play to Powerball in Florida.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

7

Tax

5.75%

You can play Powerball online in Georgia and claim prizes above $250,000 anonymously. The Peach State has had several winners who have gone public, though, including William and Heather ten Broeke from Atlanta, who banked $246 million in September 2016. As well as giving out prizes, the Georgia Lottery’s mission is to generate funds for education, and so far it has raised over $8 billion since 1993.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

5

Tax

6.5%

Brad Duke, from the city of Star, became famous in May 2005 when he won a $220 million jackpot and revealed that he wanted to turn it into $1 billion. He planned to focus on business ventures such as his chain of gyms, so that he could help others as much as possible. In Idaho, Power Play is automatically included so a single play costs $3. Everyone who wins a non-jackpot prize will see their payout boosted. As of February 2023, you can add Double Play to your ticket for an extra $1.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

2

Tax

4.95%

You can play Powerball online from Illinois and even sign up for a 12-month subscription to ensure that you never miss out on a draw. Whenever you buy a ticket in Illinois, 25 percent is transferred to state funds which help a variety of good causes, including public education and infrastructure. Special scratch-off tickets are also sold, raising funds for a number of dedicated schemes, such as organizations for veterans and breast cancer research.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

39

Tax

3.23%

Historically the most successful state for Powerball players, Indiana has created big winners on a regular basis since the game started in 1992, including 85-year-old Bert Morlan’s $5.9 million payout in the very first drawing. The Hoosier Lottery must disclose information about winners, but you can claim prizes through trusts to effectively stay anonymous. A university graduate did just that when he claimed a $435 million jackpot in February 2017 through a limited liability company called Bohemian Financial, LLC. Double Play is available in Indiana.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

9

Tax

5%

You must be at least 21 years old to play in Iowa, which was one of the original members of Powerball when it launched in 1992. The Hawkeye State has had several jackpot winners, including Lerynne West from Redfield in Dallas County, who claimed half of a $687 million jackpot in October 2018. West almost missed out on her money after dropping her ticket in her sister’s truck and forgetting about it, but she found it after being told there was a local winner.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

12

Tax

5%

Powerball tickets in Kansas can be bought using credit and debit cards, which is prohibited in many other states. If you win a prize, you can claim it anonymously if you would prefer the lottery not to release any information about you. The Kansas Lottery has generated more than $1.8 billion for the state since it launched in 1987, benefiting economic development initiatives, prison construction and maintenance projects, local juvenile detention facilities, problem gambling assistance and the General Fund.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

18

Tax

5%

Kentucky was one of the first states to offer tickets online for games such as Powerball, as well as through authorized retailers. The state has been home to more than its fair share of jackpot winners and has also raised more than $5 billion for good causes since it began in 1989. This money has been distributed to the state’s General Fund and various educational programs to help students all the way from kindergarten to college. Starting from November 2023, the Double Play feature was added to tickets, offering players a chance to win a top prize of $10 million.

Joined

Mar 5, 1995

Jackpot winners

17

Tax

4.25%

The Louisiana Lottery has transferred more than $3.5 billion to the state treasury since its launch in 1991, benefiting vital services such as health and education. The Pelican State has also delivered a number of big jackpots, such as the family group from Eunice which won $191 million in October 2017. They took advantage of a rule allowing winners to claim prizes through a trust, receiving the money via the ‘292 Family Partnership’. You have to be 21 years old to play in Louisiana.

Joined

Jul 30, 2004

Jackpot winners

0

Tax

7.15%

You can subscribe to draws in Maine so that you never miss a single one, and claim prizes through a trust if you win to effectively remain anonymous. As well as paying out prizes to players, the lottery’s mission is to have a positive impact on the local economy and all citizens of the state. Over $1.2 billion has been transferred to the general fund since 1974, helping education, health and conservation projects.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

3

Tax

8.95%

There are pros and cons to being a big winner in Maryland. The state tax rate of 8.75 percent is one of the highest in the U.S., but you can stay anonymous. A couple who won $128 million on December 24th 2011 chose to do just that, after checking their numbers the next day made it a perfect Christmas. Another benefit of playing in Maryland is that you can take part in Double Play.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

6

Tax

5%

Chicopee resident Mavis Wanczyk won one of Powerball’s most-eagerly-awaited drawings in August 2017, banking more than $758 million. ‘Mave’, as she preferred to be called, instantly quit her job of 32 years at a Springfield medical center and told the press that she would be going to ‘hide in bed’. Season tickets for Powerball are available in Massachusetts, so you can enter draws for up to a year in advance at a discounted price.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

6

Tax

4.25%

When you buy a Powerball ticket in Michigan, you can choose to play online or in-store, while Double Play is also an option. Twenty-six cents from every $1 goes to the School Aid Fund, and the Michigan Lottery has contributed more than $22 billion to support public education since 1972. Notable jackpot wins from the Great Lakes State include the $842 million claimed by the three-member Breakfast Club in January 2024.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

22

Tax

7.25%

Minnesota has been selling Powerball tickets since the start in 1992 and has crowned more than 20 jackpot winners, including Paul White from Ham Lake, who grabbed a share of a $448 million prize in August 2013. The money raised from ticket sales is split between paying prizes, retailer commissions and operating expenses, but more than 24 percent is given back to the state via the Natural Resources Fund, the Game and Fish Fund and the General Fund.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

31

Tax

4%

Missouri has ranked as one of the most successful states on Powerball, delivering more than 30 jackpots since the game replaced the original Lotto America in 1992. Among the biggest winners, Mark and Cindy Hill from Dearborn claimed half of a $587 million jackpot in November 2012 and used the money to help the local community by pledging money to schools and infrastructure. Missouri was one of the first states to offer Double Play when it launched in August 2021.

Joined

Jan 30, 2020

Jackpot winners

0

Tax

3-5%

Unlike many of the other participating states with long-established lotteries, Mississippi offers its players complete anonymity in the event of a big win. There is a state tax on winnings of up to 5%, which is around the average for the participating jurisdictions. The only trade-off is that you must be at least 21 years old to buy Powerball tickets in Mississippi, which is the joint-highest minimum playing age in the country, alongside Arizona, Iowa, and Louisiana. You can add Double Play to Powerball in Mississippi to give you another chance to win great prizes.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

4

Tax

6.9%

The cost of a ticket in Montana is $3, which automatically gives you a Power Play entry. There is no option to opt out of Power Play. The Montana Lottery has raised more than $250 million for good causes in the state since 1987. This money has benefited educational progams such as the Teachers’ Retirement Fund and, since 2015, students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, math and healthcare (STEM). You can enter up to 24 consecutive drawings in advance in the Treasure State, and must claim prizes within six months.

Joined

Jul 21, 1994

Jackpot winners

10

Tax

5%

Nebraska is the only state where the minimum age to play Powerball is 19 years old. The state also once held the record for having the biggest win in the game’s history, after a pool of eight colleagues from a meat processing plant in Lincoln snapped up $365 million in 2006. If you win a prize in Nebraska, you can claim your money through a legal trust or limited liability company if you want to keep your name out of the public eye. You can add the Double Play option to your ticket in Nebraska.

Joined

Nov 5, 1995

Jackpot winners

11

Tax

0%

The oldest state lottery in the U.S., and home to one of the most famous Powerball winners – a woman who picked up $559 million in January 2018. As well as landing a gigantic sum, she hit the headlines because she had to go to court to protect her anonymity, with state law dictating that winners must go public. She won her legal fight and claimed the money as ‘Jane Doe’. You can play Powerball online in New Hampshire.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

12

Tax

5-8%

New Jersey was the first member of Mega Millions to push for permission to sell tickets for Powerball as well, opening the door for the 2010 cross-sell expansion which helped both games to reach a wider market. The move has certainly paid off for several Powerball jackpot winners in New Jersey, including the Smith family from the Trenton area, who won $429 million in May 2016 with numbers that came to the family’s mother in a dream. New Jersey was also among the first states to bring in Double Play in 2021.

Joined

Oct 20, 1996

Jackpot winners

5

Tax

6%

The deadline for claiming prizes in New Mexico is 90 days from the date of the drawing, giving you less time to come forward than players in any other state. The short claim period has not stopped there being a number of big winners, including a group of nine friends from Roswell who banked $206 million in September 2008. All of the profits from ticket sales go to the Lottery Tuition Fund, and so far more than $800 million has been contributed to state education since 1996.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

12

Tax

10.9%

The tax rate in New York is the highest of all participating states at 8.82 percent, while an additional local levy is also applied in some locations. As one of the most populous states, it has also provided billions of dollars to the prize pot since joining the game in 2010, with around 34 cents from every entry also going towards public education in New York. You have one year from the date of a drawing to come forward and claim prizes, and the Empire State has crowned several nine-figure jackpot winners in its time.

Joined

May 30, 2006

Jackpot winners

6

Tax

5.25%

North Carolina’s lottery was set up to benefit the state’s education system back in 2005, with 26 percent of the money raised from ticket sales going towards schools and students. Most of the revenue, 63 percent, is paid straight back to players as prize money, and North Carolina has created a number of big Powerball winners. Marie Holmes, a single mother of four from Shallotte, landed a share of the enormous $564 million jackpot in February 2015.

Joined

Mar 25, 2004

Jackpot winners

0

Tax

2.9%

North Dakota offers an online subscription service for players, allowing you to subscribe for up to a year and never miss a drawing. You can stay anonymous if you win a prize, while the money from ticket sales is split several ways to help various worth causes, including the Compulsive Gambling Prevention and Treatment Fund, the Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force Grant Fund and the General Fund. Powerball has been played in the state since 2006.

Joined

Apr 16, 2010

Jackpot winners

5

Tax

4%

You can stay anonymous if you win a prize in Ohio and do not want your identity to be revealed. The state’s first Powerball jackpot winner decided to do just that and stayed anonymous after snapping up a $261 million in June 2010, just a couple of months after the game had become available. When you buy a ticket in the Buckeye State, 30 percent goes towards helping public education, and the Ohio Lottery has raised more than $24 billion since 1974.

Joined

Jan 12, 2006

Jackpot winners

4

Tax

4%

The Oklahoma Lottery is committed to contributing as much money as possible to public education in the state, and has raised more than $900 million since 2005. This money supports various areas including K-12, higher education and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). You can collect prizes through legal trusts in Oklahoma to preserve your anonymity, like the WIW Investment Trust from Broken Arrow, who won the state’s first jackpot in January 2006. The Oklahoma Lottery launched Double Play in September 2023.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

6

Tax

8%

Oregon has been the scene of several big wins, including a $1.32 billion jackpot win in Portland in April 2024. A family pool from Jacksonville also won $340 million in October 2005. Even if you don’t pick up a prize, you are doing your bit for the state every time you buy a ticket, with a portion of the revenue going towards education, economic development, veterans’ services and much more. You have a year from the date of the drawing to come forward and claim prizes.

Joined

Jun 29, 2002

Jackpot winners

20

Tax

3.07%

As one of the biggest states in the U.S., it is fitting that Pennsylvania has also been one of the most successful states on Powerball, producing winners on a regular basis since it began offering the game in 2002. There is a Right-to-Know law in Pennsylvania which compels the lottery to reveal information about winners, but you can stay secret by claiming through a trust, like the Emerald Legacy Trust, who won $457 million in March 2018. You can add Double Play to your tickets in Pennsylvania.

Joined

Sep 28, 2014

Jackpot winners

2

Tax

0%

Puerto Rico only started selling Powerball tickets in 2014 but quickly celebrated its first jackpot win when a player from the island grabbed a share of the $564 million prize that was up for grabs in February 2015. The lucky ticket holder was able to stay anonymous and did not have to pay any state tax on the win. Puerto Rico also offers Double Play, giving your numbers another chance to win up to $10 million.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

8

Tax

5.99%

The Rhode Island Lottery has existed since 1975 and was part of the original Lotto America before it was replaced by Powerball in 1992, although it has not offered the new version of Lotto America. The lottery returns more than 80 percent of the money it takes in straight back to players in the form of prizes, while the rest of it is split between operating costs, retailer commissions and the General Fund, which benefits education and welfare services.

Joined

Oct 6, 2002

Jackpot winners

6

Tax

6.5%

South Carolina has sold Powerball tickets since 2002 and lets its winners remain anonymous if they prefer. This is an option that has been taken up by many lucky players, including a man who claimed $400 million in September 2013. The lottery’s focus is on maximizing contributions to public education, and ticket sales from games such as Powerball have helped to raise more than $5 billion to date. Double Play is an option in South Carolina.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

3

Tax

0%

You can add Double Play in South Dakota for another opportunity to win big. All the proceeds from the South Dakota Lottery go back to the state, paying for valuable services in several sectors. More than $440 million has been given to the General Fund since 1987 to help support education, while funds have also gone towards the Capital Construction Fund to benefit the environment and the state’s highways. Big winners from the state have included Neal Wanless, a rancher from the town of Mission who claimed $232 million in May 2009.

Joined

Apr 21, 2004

Jackpot winners

7

Tax

0%

The eyes of Powerball players across the U.S. turned towards Tennessee when the record $1.58 billion jackpot was won by three tickets, as John and Lisa Robinson from Munford were the first winners to come forward. They appeared on The Today show days after the drawing to break the news, revealing that they had no plans to give up work. Living in Tennessee, they did not have to pay any state tax on their big win. Tennessee is one of the states where you can add Double Play.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

2

Tax

0%

Texas is an ideal place to win a big Powerball prize, as you have the option to stay anonymous and you do not have to pay any state tax. One of the three winners of the $564 million draw in February 2015 came from Texas, and they decided to claim the money through an anonymous trust to keep their name out of the limelight. Around 25 percent of the money raised from ticket sales in Texas is transferred to the Foundation School Fund to aid public education.

Joined

Nov 14, 2002

Jackpot winners

0

Tax

0%

The U.S. Virgin Islands was allowed to join Powerball in 2002 after seeking permission from the Multi-State Lottery Association to become the first territory outside of the mainland to take part. The main purpose was to boost revenue and the move has had the desired effect, with a high level of participation helping to benefit the Education Initiative Fund, the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program and the General Fund. Double Play was also introduced to the islands in 2023.

Joined

Jul 1, 2003

Jackpot winners

1

Tax

6%

The Vermont Lottery has been committed to giving all proceeds from its games to the General and Education Fund since it launched in 1978, and the arrival of Powerball in the state in 2003 has helped to accelerate the contributions, with more than $640 million raised in total. When you play in Vermont, you can pick the same numbers in up to 20 consecutive drawings and you have a year to claim prizes.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

2

Tax

4

Virginia’s first jackpot winner was Dave Honeywell, who landed $217 million in February 2013 with a ticket he purchased as he was flying out of Richmond International Airport. He was not given the option to stay anonymous as state law at the time dictated that a winner’s identity had to be made public, but changes were made in 2019 to give players the right to stay private if they won more than $10 million. You can subscribe online to play Powerball in Virginia.

Joined

Jan 31, 2010

Jackpot winners

2

Tax

0%

Washington’s Lottery has raised more than $4 billion for a variety of state programs since its inception in 1982, contributing to education, economic development and stadium debt payments for CenturyLink Field. Big winners in the state have included Lisa Quam from Auburn, Seattle, who won $90 million with a ticket bought on Thanksgiving Day in 2014. In February 2023, a Washington player - Becky Bell of Auburn - landed $754 million to become one of Powerball’s biggest-ever winners.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

0

Tax

8.5%

Washington D.C. has one of the highest tax rates of any jurisdiction at 8.5 percent. However, it is possible to claim prizes without your name being disclosed, by setting up a legal trust. One of the most famous winners in Washington D.C. an 82-year-old man with a large family of 10 children, claimed his $144 million jackpot in 2009 through a limited liability company called Rockson LLC. You can take part in Double Play in Washington.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

9

Tax

6.5%

In West Virginia, you are allowed to stay anonymous if you win more than $1 million. The State Lottery Fund receives 38.7 percent of the money raised from ticket sales and benefits the state in a number of ways, such as educational programs, tourism projects and schemes to help senior citizens. West Virginia has been the scene of numerous jackpot wins since Powerball started.

Joined

Apr 22, 1992

Jackpot winners

19

Tax

7.65%

Manuel Franco, from West Allis, set a record for the biggest win on a single Powerball ticket when he claimed $768 million in March 2019. At the age of 24, he considered taking the prize as an annuity but instead chose the cash option of $477 million before taxes. Among the state’s other big winners, a lottery pool of 100 cheese factory workers landed $208 million in 2006 after rubbing a Buddha statue for good luck.

Joined

Aug 24, 2014

Jackpot winners

0

Tax

0%

Wyoming became the 46th jurisdiction to start selling Powerball tickets in August 2014, having only established a state lottery the previous year. The mission of the Wyoming Lottery Corporation is to support local communities throughout the state, and a portion of the revenue from ticket sales goes to towns and cities every quarter, so that it can be used for projects that benefit residents. You do not have to pay state tax if you win a Powerball prize in Wyoming.