The basics
Powerball is operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and offered in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are broadcast three times a week from the Florida Lottery's draw studio in Tallahassee.
How to play, step by step
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1
Pick five white-ball numbers
Choose five numbers from 1 to 69. Each number represents one of the white balls drawn from the first ball machine. You can pick any combination — birthdays, favorite numbers, or random.
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2
Pick one Powerball number
Choose one number from 1 to 26. This is the red Powerball, drawn from a separate machine. You need this to match for the jackpot.
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3
Decide on Power Play
For an extra $1 per play, add Power Play to multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, or 10× (the 10× multiplier only kicks in when the jackpot is $150 million or less).
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4
Or use Quick Pick
Don't want to choose? Quick Pick lets the terminal generate completely random numbers for you. Roughly 75% of all Powerball tickets are bought as Quick Picks — and most jackpot winners come from these.
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5
Buy your ticket
Buy in person at any authorized retailer (gas stations, convenience stores, supermarkets) or online through state-run apps and licensed couriers. We list the best online options on our Where to Play page.
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6
Wait for the drawing
Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET. Results are available within minutes — right here at LotoPowerball.
Power Play explained
Power Play is an optional add-on that costs $1 extra per play. Before each drawing, a multiplier ball is drawn separately — this multiplier is then applied to all non-jackpot prizes you win.
Power Play multipliers
- 10× — only available when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less
- 2×, 3×, 4×, 5× — available on all drawings
- The $1 million Match-5 prize doubles to $2 million with Power Play, regardless of the multiplier drawn
- Power Play does not affect the jackpot itself
Double Play (selected states)
Available in 14 jurisdictions, Double Play is an add-on that gives your ticket a second chance to win. For $1 more, your numbers are entered into a second drawing held immediately after the main Powerball draw, with a separate prize pool topping out at $10 million.
Double Play is currently offered in: Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
Claiming your prize
How you claim depends on the size of the prize and where you bought your ticket.
Claim at any participating retailer. Walk in, show your winning ticket, walk out with cash.
Visit a regional lottery office or claim by mail with a signed claim form and identification.
You'll need to visit your state's lottery headquarters in person, with identification and tax forms.
Choose between annuity (30 payments over 29 years) or one-time cash. You have 60 days to decide.
Prize claim deadlines vary by state, ranging from 90 days to one year from the drawing date. Don't sit on a winning ticket.
Annuity or cash?
This is the most important decision a jackpot winner has to make. The advertised "$430 million" prize is the annuity value — paid as 30 graduated annual payments over 29 years, with each payment 5% larger than the last.
The cash option is a one-time lump-sum payment, typically 45–55% of the advertised jackpot. For the current $430 million jackpot, the cash value is around $191 million before taxes.
The math. Most financial advisors recommend the lump sum if you can responsibly invest it — you typically come out ahead even after taxes. But the annuity is structurally protective: it forces a payment schedule that's harder to blow through.
Ready to play?
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