🔴 How to Play Powerball

The rules in plain English — how to pick your numbers, when it's drawn, every prize tier and the real odds of winning.

What is Powerball?

Powerball is a draw game where you choose 5 numbers from 1 to 69, plus Powerball from 1 to 26. Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Match the drawn numbers to win — the more you match, the bigger the prize, all the way up to the jackpot.

How to Play Powerball — Step by Step

  1. Step 1: Pick your numbers

    Choose 5 numbers from 1 to 69, then choose 1 Powerball from 1 to 26. Prefer to leave it to chance? Ask for a Quick Pick and the terminal selects your numbers at random.

  2. Step 2: Add Power Play (optional)

    Powerball offers an optional add-on, Power Play, that multiplies the value of non-jackpot prizes. It's your choice whether to add it when you buy.

  3. Step 3: Choose your drawing

    Powerball is drawn on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. You can play a single drawing or enter multiple consecutive draws on one ticket.

  4. Step 4: Buy your ticket

    Purchase your Powerball ticket from an authorized lottery retailer in any participating state before that drawing's cut-off time. You must be of legal age in your state to play.

  5. Step 5: Check the results

    After the Monday/Wednesday/Saturday draw, compare your numbers against the winning numbers. See the latest Powerball numbers and past results on our results page.

Powerball Prizes & Odds

Jackpot odds: 1 in 292,201,338  ·  Odds of winning any prize: 1 in 25

Match Odds Prize
5 + Powerball 1 in 292,201,338 Jackpot
Match 5 1 in 11,688,054 $1,000,000
4 + Powerball 1 in 913,129 $50,000
Match 4 1 in 36,525 $100
3 + Powerball 1 in 14,494 $100
Match 3 1 in 580 $7
2 + Powerball 1 in 701 $7
1 + Powerball 1 in 92 $4
Powerball only 1 in 38 $4

Fixed prize amounts shown are typical base values; some states and some games (and rolled or pari-mutuel tiers) may differ. The jackpot is shared if there are multiple top-tier winners.

See Latest Powerball Numbers →

Where You Can Play Powerball

Powerball is played in these states. The draw is the same everywhere — pick your state for local results, jackpot info, prize tiers and where to claim.

Arizona →Arkansas →California →Colorado →Connecticut →Delaware →District of Columbia →Florida →Georgia →Idaho →Illinois →Indiana →Iowa →Kansas →Kentucky →Louisiana →Maine →Maryland →Massachusetts →Michigan →Minnesota →Mississippi →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 →Vermont →Virginia →Washington →West Virginia →Wisconsin →Wyoming →

Powerball — Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play Powerball?

To play Powerball, choose 5 numbers from 1 to 69, plus Powerball from 1 to 26. You can pick your own numbers or use a Quick Pick. Buy your ticket from an authorized retailer before the drawing.

What are the odds of winning Powerball?

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. The odds of winning any Powerball prize are about 1 in 25.

What days is Powerball drawn?

Powerball drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

How many numbers do you need to win a prize in Powerball?

You can win a prize in Powerball by matching as little as "Powerball only" — you do not need to match all of the numbers to win a lower-tier prize. Matching everything wins the jackpot.

What is Power Play in Powerball?

Power Play is an optional add-on that multiplies the value of non-jackpot Powerball prizes. You choose whether to add it when you buy your ticket.

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DrawAnalytics is an informational and entertainment service. We provide historical lottery data analysis and pattern exploration tools. We do not sell predictions, we do not guarantee any outcome, and we make no representation that any tool on this site improves a user's probability of winning any lottery game. Lottery drawings are random. Past results do not predict future drawings. You must be 18 or older (21+ in some states) to play state lottery games. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit ncpgambling.org.