How to Play Powerball

Powerball draws are held every Wednesday and Saturday evening (Eastern US Time). It consists of 5 main numbers between 1 and 69 and 1 Powerball number between 1 and 26. The Powerball jackpot is paid out to to the player or players who match all 6 numbers.

Powerball tickets cost €3.50 and some US states also allow something known as the Power Play, which increases the value of non-jackpot winnings. Please note that this is only available to US players.

Jackpots and Records

In 2016 the Powerball smashed the record for the largest ever lottery jackpot when it paid out a massive $1.586 billion to three ticket holders. They each walked away with a cash prize of $327 million and a record that still stands to this day.

The jackpot went close to passing this record in August 2017, when it reached $758 million, but it was then claimed by a single ticket holder, who became the biggest single ticket winner of the Powerball.

Every time there is a rollover more Powerball tickets are sold, and the more rollovers there are, the more interest is generated and the faster that jackpot rises. This, in addition to the fact that there is no maximum jackpot, is what makes Powerball a record breaking lottery. The $40 million minimum jackpot also helps, as does the fact that Powerball is known around the world and is played by players in dozens of different countries.

Winning Odds of Powerball

The odds of any ticket winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million. The lowest prize, which is paid to players who get only the Powerball, returns odds of 1 in 38, and there is a 1 in 24 chance of any ticket being a winner.