How to Play Powerball for Beginners

Want to be the next Powerball jackpot winner? Powerball is a lottery game that’s simple to play—just select 5 white ball numbers and 1 red Powerball number. Then, check if your numbers match any of the winning numbers at drawings held each Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday night. In this article, we’ll teach you how to fill out your Powerball ticket, what the prizes are, who can play, and where to get tickets (both in-person and online). Keep reading if you’re ready to test your luck!

A Guide to Playing Powerball

Select 5 white ball numbers between 1-69 and 1 red Powerball number between 1-26. Then, check your numbers against the winning numbers at the next available drawing on Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday at 10:59 pm EST. Each game costs $2 and prizes range from $4 to over $20 million.

Section 1 of 7:

How to Fill Out a Powerball Ticket

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Pick 5 numbers between 1-69 and 1 number between 1-26. Though Powerball tickets vary slightly from state to state, the basic method to fill one out is the same. On your ticket, pick the numbers you want to bet on and the number of drawings you want to add. Follow these guidelines to fill out a ticket:^{[1]
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- Choose 5 white ball numbers between 1 and 69.
- Select 1 red Powerball number between 1 and 26.
- Fill in the “QP” space to select random numbers instead of choosing numbers. "QP" stands for "Quick Pick"—this lets the computer randomly choose numbers for you.
- Fill out more than 1 board if you want to play with new numbers. Most Powerball tickets come with 5 possible games you can play (labeled board A through E). Each game costs $2.
- Choose how many drawings you want. Most tickets have a "Multidraw" section that allows you to pay for multiple drawings. For instance, if you want to bet on your numbers for 2 back-to-back drawings, fill in the "2" space. Each subsequent drawing costs $2.
- If you make an error on any board, fill in the "VOID" space for that board. Then, fill in your numbers on another board.
- Pay for your ticket when you’re done. The clerk calculates your ticket price based on how many boards, Power Plays, and Double Plays (described below) you select.
  - For example, if you play 5 draws on 1 board with a Power Play and 5 without, you pay (5 × 3) + (5 × 2) = $25.
If you don't want to fill out a lengthy Powerball ticket by hand or you don't care which numbers you bet on, you can usually ask for a Quick Pick ticket instead of the normal Powerball ticket. In this case, a computer randomly chooses your numbers for you; this is similar to filling in the "QP" space on a normal ticket.^{[2]
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Add Power Play for $1 for a shot at multiplying your winnings. In every state except California, you have the option to play Power Play on your Powerball ticket for $1 more. Power Play multiplies your winnings for all non-jackpot prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10. The Power Play multiplier is selected at random before each drawing.^{[3]
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- For instance, a $4 prize can become $8, $12, $16, or $20 with Power Play.
- The 10x Power Play multiplier is only available if the jackpot prize is less than $150 million.
- In Idaho and Montana, Power Play is automatically added on to your Powerball ticket. So, each Powerball play costs $3.^{[4]
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- The Power Play option is unavailable in California because state laws require that lottery prizes be paid on a pari-mutuel basis.^{[5]
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  Research source} This means that lottery prizes can't be set at absolute values, but must fluctuate based on the number of tickets sold and the amount of winning tickets.
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Select Double Play for $1 for a chance to win more prizes. In some states, you can add Double Play to your ticket for $1 more. Double Play enters your same Powerball numbers in a second drawing held after the Powerball drawing. So, you have the chance of winning a Powerball prize, a Double Play prize, or both.^{[6]
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- The jackpot prize for Double Play is 10 million. The other prizes range from $500,000 to $7.
- Double Play is only available in Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington. It’s also available in DC, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Understand the goal and winning combos behind Powerball. Powerball is played by drawing 6 numbers—5 white ball numbers between 1 and 69 and 1 “Powerball” number (red ball) between 1 and 26. Each ball is randomly selected by a machine during the drawing. Your ultimate goal is to match every number selected, which wins you the jackpot. However, there are other winning combinations for smaller prizes (which can be quite lucrative in their own right).^{[7]
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- Note: The 5 white ball numbers do not have to be in the same order as the balls that are drawn. Winning numbers win regardless of the order they're listed in for all prizes! The media typically reports numbers from smallest to largest to make it easier to read.
- However, the Powerball number must match exactly. None of the white ball numbers can count in place of the Powerball number.^{[8]
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- Powerball may intentionally change the number of balls in play to tweak the odds. In the past, Powerball has reduced the white count to 59 and reduced the red count from 35 to 26.^{[9]
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Section 2 of 7:

Powerball Prizes and Odds of Winning

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Prize winnings range from $4 to $20,000,000+. If the numbers you picked match at least 1 number drawn, you win a cash prize! Just note that the prize amounts below represent base values—Power Play prizes are subject to a 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x multiplier (except for jackpots, which aren't multiplied, and prizes for matching 5 white balls, which only double). The winning combinations are:^{[10]
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- Matching only the red ball: $4
- Matching the red ball and 1 white ball: $4
- Matching the red ball and 2 white balls: $7
- Matching 3 white balls: $7
- Matching the red ball and 3 white balls: $100
- Matching 4 white balls: $100
- Matching the red ball and 4 white balls: $50,000
- Matching 5 white balls: $1,000,000
- Matching the red ball and 5 white balls: Jackpot! The jackpot starts at a minimum of $20 million.
- Note: Prizes differ in California because state law requires lottery prizes to be awarded on a pari-mutuel basis (where the payout depends on the pool of bets, instead of a fixed payout).^{[11]
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The overall odds of winning a prize is 1 in 24.87. Like any lottery, the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are very slim. To make an educated decision when you buy Powerball tickets, consult the official odds listed below, which are for a single random $2 ticket:^{[12]
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- Matching only the red ball: 1 in 38.32
- Matching the red ball and 1 white ball: 1 in 91.98
- Matching the red ball and 2 white balls: 1 in 701.33
- Matching 3 white balls: 1 in 579.76
- Matching the red ball and 3 white balls: 1 in 14,494.11
- Matching 4 white balls: 1 in 36,525.17
- Matching the red ball and 4 white balls: 1 in 913,129.18
- Matching 5 white balls: 1 in 11,688,053.52
- Matching the red ball and 5 white balls: 1 in 292,201,338.00

Section 3 of 7:

How much does it cost to play Powerball?

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Each Powerball game costs $2 in most states. Playing 1 game of Powerball costs $2 when no additional draws or games are added (like Power Play or Double Play). Each additional board you fill out on your Powerball ticket costs $2.^{[13]
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- For example, if you decide to play all 5 boards on your Powerball ticket, your ticket costs $10.
- Power Play and Double Play cost $1 extra for each game you play. For example, if you play 2 boards and select Power Play for 1 board, your ticket costs $5.
- Each additional draw you add to your game costs $2.
- In Idaho and Montana, 1 game of Powerball costs $3 because Power Play is automatically added to your ticket.

Section 4 of 7:

When are Powerball drawings?

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Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 pm EST. At each drawing, the 5 white balls and the red Powerball are picked by the Multi-State Lottery Association. Simply check the Powerball results on Powerball’s website or your state’s lottery website. Most local news stations broadcast the numbers on TV, too.^{[14]
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- Stores where Powerball tickets are sold also post the most recent draws.
- Your Powerball ticket is only valid for the next drawing unless you pay for multiple drawings. In other words, if your ticket doesn't win, it's not eligible for future drawings.
- Powerball ticket sales are usually cut off 1 to 2 hours before each drawing. For instance, if you want to play for Monday’s drawing, you need to buy your ticket by 8 or 9 pm on Monday.
- The more drawings that occur without a jackpot winner, the higher the jackpot gets. Jackpots start at a minimum of $20 million and increase each time a drawing occurs without a jackpot winner.

Section 5 of 7:

Who can play Powerball?

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Most people over 18 in states except AL, AK, HI, NV, and UT can play. Powerball tickets are sold in all states (including Washington DC) except Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah; these states prohibit lotteries by law.^{[15]
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Research source} In most states, you must be 18 years or older to play the lottery (you only need to be 21 in Louisiana).^{[16]
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- Powerball is also available to play in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
- If you're not a resident of one of these states or territories, you can still play if you purchase your ticket in a Powerball state. You don't even have to be a U.S. citizen to play and win the Powerball.

Section 6 of 7:

Where to Get Powerball Tickets

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Find Powerball tickets at a drugstore, gas station, or grocery store. You can buy tickets at local stores like drug stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores as long as the store is an authorized lottery retailer. Just ask the cashier at the store if they sell Powerball tickets.^{[17]
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- Each state’s lottery website lists authorized retailers where you can find Powerball tickets. Simply go to your state’s website and look for “Find a Retailer” on the page.
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Purchase Powerball tickets online if it’s legal in your region. Some states allow you to fill out and buy your Powerball ticket online. Simply open your computer’s browser and type in your state’s name plus “Powerball” to find the official site for your specific state. Then, search the site for “play online” to see if online tickets are available in your state.^{[18]
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- There’s only 1 official lottery site per state: the site is either run by the state lottery corporation (ex. Kentucky Lottery Corporation) or the government itself (ex. in North Dakota, you can buy tickets from a .gov website run by the state).
- Avoid buying tickets from third-party sites that resell official Powerball tickets. If you don’t buy from an official site, the lottery can refuse to pay out the money if you win.
- Powerball tickets are available online in: Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
- You must be a resident of the state or territory to purchase a Powerball ticket online.

Section 7 of 7:

What to Do If You Win Powerball

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Go to the store you got the ticket or a lottery office to get your prize. If your winnings are less than $600, just go to the store you bought the ticket from to claim your winnings. If your winnings are over $600, your ticket requires official verification. Simply go to one of the lottery district offices in the state where you bought your ticket and present it for verification.^{[19]
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- Search your state’s procedures for claiming large prizes online, as states may have different rules. For instance, you may need to fill out a claim form.
- Powerball tickets do expire. The time frame to claim a prize differs from state to state, from 90 days to a full year.
- If you can't make it to the vendor or lottery office for some reason (for instance, if you've left the state you bought the ticket in), it's legal to mail your ticket to the state lottery office.
- Powerball’s official website provides a map that links you to state lottery pages, which have more specific information about claiming prizes in your state.
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Choose a lump sum or annuity payout option if you win the jackpot. Congratulations, you won the jackpot! The only question remaining before you retire is this: how would you like your money? Powerball jackpot winners have 2 options for receiving their cash—receive the entire prize at once in a lump sum, or receive it in yearly installments (called annuity).^{[20]
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- Taking the cash as a lump sum gives you lots of money upfront, so it may be a good idea if you have a dream purchase or investment you'd like to make immediately.
- The annuity option invests the cash winnings and gives you your first installment immediately. You then get subsequent payments each year for 29 years (plus interest), which may be a better option for long-term stability.
- Choosing which prize to take is a complicated decision that depends on your personal financial situation and goals.
- Note: Powerball winnings are subject to federal and/or state income taxes. Because of this, the annuity option typically nets you more money in the long term—not only will you receive interest on your winnings, but each year you'll only have to pay taxes on about 1/30 of your total prize. This means more of your prize is taxed at a lower bracket. If you choose the lump sum payment, you can expect to pay up to about half of your winnings in taxes, depending on your state's income tax rules.^{[21]
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- If you are not a U.S. citizen and you win a substantial jackpot, the IRS deducts a flat rate of 30% from your winnings. U.S. citizens are subject to a 25% initial deduction, plus state taxation.^{[22]
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Can non-US citizens play and win the lottery?

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Yes, non-US citizens can play and win. However, the tax withheld will be slightly different depending on your country of origin.

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After I buy a ticket, can it be changed from annuity to cash option?

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Federal guidelines suggest that if you are a jackpot prize winner but did not choose the cash option at the time of purchase, you will have one last chance to choose the cash option. However, not all states follow this guideline. Check with your state lottery officials.

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What happens if I take an annuity and die before all of the installments have been paid?

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If you die before all the installments have been paid, your designated beneficiaries will continue to receive the annually-scheduled payments.

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Tips

To increase your chances of winning, purchase multiple tickets. Also, select random numbers to increase your odds that no one else wins. Many people choose sentimental numbers (like birthdays), which means the numbers 1 through 31 are often picked.^{[23]
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If you win the Powerball jackpot, most financial experts recommend hiring a financial or estate planner to help you decide whether to take the lump sum or annuity payment. They can then help you invest your money wisely.^{[24]
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As of 2024, the largest winning Powerball jackpot is $2.04 billion, which was won in 2022.^{[25]
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