The Odds of Winning Powerball – Everything You Need to Know
With a record jackpot of $2.04 billion, Powerball has certainly grown to undoubtedly become the biggest lottery in the world. However, simply entering the draw isn’t enough – you need to beat the odds first! Whenever a jackpot starts getting big, you can expect lottery fever to sweep the nation and millions of Powerball tickets to be bought prior to each draw—all aiming for a chance to win the coveted top prize, which usually reaches hundreds of millions.
One of the main reasons Powerball jackpots can reach these colossal amounts is precisely because of the difficult odds, which results in long rollover cycles. Keep reading to find out how lottery odds work and what your chances are of winning the Powerball are.
How are lottery odds calculated?
Your probability of winning a lottery prize is based on how many numbers you correctly guess, and the range of those numbers. The more numbers you need to match and the larger the range of numbers, the more challenging it will be to win. The smaller the guess range, the more favorable your odds of matching a prize will be.
How do Powerball odds work?
Every lottery has its own unique matrix, meaning odds will be calculated differently for each lottery. When you play Powerball, you need to correctly match 5 numbers from a range of 1-69 and 1 Powerball number from 1-26. Unless the lottery changes the game rules at some stage, there is no other factor that can affect the odds. This includes the size of the jackpot, and how many people are participating in the draw.
However, something that can change is the chances of the jackpot being split between winners. This is because if there are more players participating in a given draw, the odds of more jackpot winners having the same numbers also increases, meaning the prize money will be split between multiple players.
What are the odds of winning Powerball prizes?
In addition to the jackpot, Powerball also offers eight secondary prize tiers. Check out your chances of winning one:
| Prize Category | Match | Winning Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Prize 1 (Jackpot) | 5+Powerball | 1:292,201,338 |
| Prize 2 | 5 | 1:11,688,053 |
| Prize 3 | 4+Powerball | 1:913,129 |
| Prize 4 | 4 | 1:36,525 |
| Prize 5 | 3+Powerball | 1:14,494 |
| Prize 6 | 3 | 1:579 |
| Prize 7 | 2+Powerball | 1:701 |
| Prize 8 | 1+Powerball | 1:92 |
| Prize 9 | 0+Powerball | 1:38 |
Your overall odds of winning any Powerball prize is just 1 in 24.9.
Curious about strategy? While Powerball is a game of chance, some players like to check out the most common Powerball numbers to help guide their picks.
Does the Power Play Option Improve Your Chances of Winning?
Powerball gives players a chance to multiply their secondary prize winnings by up to five times their original amount by adding the Powerball Power Play option to their ticket for a small extra fee.
So how does it work? At the draw, a single number from a guess range of 2 to 5 will be selected from a separate drum consisting of forty-two balls. Each ball has a number that determines how many times a secondary prize is multiplied.
Important to note—the Power Play feature does not affect your chances of snagging a Powerball prize! The only element affected is the number of times your secondary prize could be multiplied, with each multiplier ball having different odds of being selected.
For example, there are 3 balls with the number “4X”. If one of the 3 balls is drawn, anyone who added the Power Play option to their entry will have their secondary prize multiplied three times. This number has a 1 in 14 chance of being drawn.
Wondering if Power Play appears in other lottery games? No, it doesn’t. Power Play is totally unique to Powerball, but there are similar multiplier features in other games. Mega Millions, for example, has a Multiplier feature just like Powerball’s, except with the Mega Millions Multiplier you can multiply secondary prizes up to ten times, including the second placed prize. That means if you scored a Mega Millions secondary prize of $1 million, as well as a 10x Multiplier, you could win $10 million!
Does playing online affect the Powerball odds?
No, it does not! When you order a Powerball ticket online through a lottery courier service like TheLotter US, you will enter the draw with official tickets purchased in your state, meaning you have as good of a chance as any other player of winning a Powerball prize!
How to order Powerball tickets online?
It’s like buying a regular lottery ticket, just more convenient. Play Powerball from anywhere in applicable states, at any time of the day by selecting “Powerball” on TheLotter US website or app, filling in your online entry, and choosing whether you’d like to add the Power Play option.
Once your order has been confirmed, local agents will purchase an official Powerball ticket on your behalf, scan and upload it to your account for viewing purposes, and securely store the physical ticket until the draw.
Did you win the Powerball?
If you match a second-tier prize, your winnings will be immediately transferred to your account at TheLotter US for withdrawal after the official Powerball results are announced. In the case of a jackpot or second-place win, TheLotter US will facilitate the delivery of the physical winning ticket and assist you in collecting your prize in person.
All prizes won through TheLotter US are awarded 100% commission-free, so when you win, you’re taking home the entire prize!
The tax you pay on lottery winnings varies by state. Click here to learn how much tax you’ll pay on a win in your home state.
Do you think you can beat the Powerball odds?
If you’re ready to try your luck at winning the next Powerball jackpot, you can order your official lottery tickets online at TheLotter US!
