Powerball FAQ
Powerball questions answered: odds, ticket cost, cut-off times, claiming prizes, taxes, anonymity and where results come from.
How much does a Powerball ticket cost?
$2 per play. Power Play (+$1) multiplies non-jackpot prizes 2X–10X (10X only while the jackpot is $150 million or less; Match-5 with Power Play always pays $2 million). Double Play (+$1, select jurisdictions) enters your numbers in a second drawing with a $10 million top prize.
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
The jackpot odds are 1 in 292,201,338 per play (5 numbers from 1–69 plus a Powerball from 1–26). The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 24.87.
When are Powerball drawings held?
Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET. Ticket sales cut off shortly before the drawing — typically one to two hours, varying by state.
How many numbers do I need to win a prize in Powerball?
Any of nine combinations wins: matching just the Powerball wins the minimum prize, and prizes increase up to the jackpot for matching all five numbers plus the Powerball. See our ways-to-win chart for every tier.
What does the Powerball jackpot start at?
After a jackpot is won, the advertised jackpot resets to $20 million and grows with ticket sales until someone wins again.
Should I take the annuity or the cash option?
The advertised jackpot is an annuity of 30 graduated payments over 29 years; the cash option — roughly 40–55% of the annuity depending on interest rates — is a single lump sum. Nearly all winners take the cash. Both are taxable; consult a financial adviser before claiming a large prize.
How long do I have to claim a Powerball prize?
Claim periods are set by each state and range from 90 days to one year from the draw date. Check the claim deadline printed on your ticket or your state lottery's website.
Can I stay anonymous if I win Powerball?
It depends on the state where you bought the ticket — some states allow anonymous claims, others require public disclosure, and in several you can claim through a trust or LLC. See our state guides for the rules where you play.
Do lottery statistics improve my odds of winning Powerball?
No. Every combination has identical odds in every drawing — hot/cold statistics describe the past and cannot predict the future. We publish them for interest, with that disclaimer, in our statistics section.
Where does Lottery Atlas get its Powerball results?
Results are fetched from a commercial lottery data feed within minutes of each official drawing and reconciled against the official Powerball results at powerball.com within 24 hours. Always verify with the official lottery before acting on a result.