Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the US. With 45 states having access to the game, it can drive jackpots to record highs and draw a lot of attention. 

One recent Michigan Lottery player was able to land $500,000 in a recent game. The winner purchased their ticket at a shell gas station in Augusta. Below you will see the updated jackpot and how you could win. 

Game Details 

• Estimated Jackpot: $500 million
• Next Drawing: Sat, 9:59pm
• Purchasing Options: Online and In-Store
• Ticket Cost: $2.00
• Drawing Schedule: Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm

How to Play 

Players begin their purchase by choosing five white-ball numbers in a range from one to 69. Next, choose a single red powerball number within a range of one to 26. You have the option for the machine to pick for you if you cannot decide your numbers. 

Powerball only showcases one additional feature known as the Power Play. For another dollar, you have the opportunity to make even more money. 

The Power Play feature will take your current winning prize and have it multiplied by either 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X the amount. The 10X multiplier is great, but it only applies to prizes below $150 million for the jackpot. 

By winning a large prize amount of over several million or more, you have a few options for payouts. Players can set up a 30-year annuity or take the prize in cash. 

The 30-year option is dispersed each year evenly and allows for fewer taxes. Taking the cash upfront is subject to more taxes and less money overall when you compare the two. 

Odds, Price, and Prizes 

The overall odds of winning a single prize while playing Powerball is 1 in 25. You could purchase another ticket to slightly increase your chances. You might want to try this method, especially since the jackpot has odds of 1 in 292,201,338. 

Each ticket will cost a minimum of $2 a play, with each Power Play adding an additional dollar. By purchasing more tickets, not only gives you more room for prizes to earn but it will cost you more money. 

Make sure you have a budget set up before using this method. The prizes could make up for the extra purchases, but they will vary from $2 all the way to the current jackpot.