Powerball Basics

Powerball underwent some changes on Jan. 15, 2012. For tickets purchased prior to this date, please see our "Classic" Powerball page.

Powerball jackpots start at $40 million and keep growing until somebody wins. Cost is $2 per play for a chance to win millions. Jackpot winners can be paid in 30 annual payments over 29 years or in one lump-sum cash payment. If players choose the annuity, the annual payments will be increased each year by a percentage set out in the Powerball game procedures. Jackpot winners have 60 days after they claim their prize to determine how they want to be paid.

Powerball Prize Matrix (as of Jan. 15, 2012)
For Powerball information prior to 1/15/2012, please see our "Classic" Powerball page.

Powerball drawings are held at 9:59 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday evening. Powerball drawings are shown on KSTC.TV Channel 45 in the Twin Cities, WDIO-TV Channel 10 in Duluth, WIRT-13 in Hibbing, KEYC-TV Channel 12 in Mankato and KTTC-TV Channel 10 in Rochester. Tickets must be purchased before 9 p.m. to be eligible for that day’s drawing at 9:59 p.m.

How to Play

Get a POWERBALL play slip from any Minnesota State Lottery retailer and follow the directions on the back. Just pick five numbers from 1 to 59 (white balls). Then pick one more number from 1 to 35 (the red Powerball). Or simply ask the clerk for a POWERBALL QUICK PICK and random numbers will be picked for you. 

Players can purchase up to 14 draws in advance. Remember, each play costs $2, and Powerball with Power Play costs an additional $1 per play. Players have one year from the date of the drawing to claim their prize. Order carefully – Powerball tickets CANNOT be canceled once they are printed.

Where to Play

The following 44 lotteries offer Powerball: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington D.C., West Virginia and Wisconsin.

New Match 5 Power Play Option

The Power Play option continues as a game add-on for an additional $1 per play. Example: If you fill in all 5 plays on the play slip and select 3 draws - without Power Play - the ticket costs you $30 (5 x 3 x $2 = $30). But if you add Power Play to this ticket, your cost would be $45 (5 x 3 x 2 + $15 = $45). The Multiplier options (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x) have been discontinued. Instead, the Power Play option will offer increased set prize levels as follows:

Powerball with Power Play Prize Matrix (as of Jan. 15, 2012)
For Powerball information prior to 1/15/2012, please see our "Classic" Powerball page.

Prizes and Odds of Winning
(as of Jan. 15, 2012)

Overall odds of winning a Powerball prize are approximately 1 in 31.85. Odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 175.2 million. The Power Play option increases your non-jackpot prize according to the chart at left.

Tickets must be purchased before 9 p.m. to be eligible for that day's drawing at 9:59 p.m.

* The set prize amounts listed above are based on the expected number of winners sharing in the prize pool. In some cases, these prizes may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis and will be lower than these listed prize levels. Refer to the official game procedures for a detailed explanation of the optional pari-mutuel payment. The jackpot prize will be divided equally among all players who correctly match all 5 white balls plus the red powerball. Jackpot winners have 60 days after claiming that prize to choose how to be paid -- in 30 annual payments or in one lump sum payment (approx. 1/2 the annuitized amount).