Powerball is one of the most recognized lottery games in the US. With large jackpots on the rise often, it is easy to see why players want a piece of it.
Three players from Grand Blac, Sterling Heights, and Portage each won $100,000 on the same day. Below you can see how to play and what prizes you could potentially win.
Game Details
Current Estimated Jackpot: $480 million
Purchasing Options: Online and In-Store
Ticket Cost: $2.00
Drawing Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m.
How to Play Powerball
Players have to choose five white ball numbers spanning from one to 69. Next, players must select a single red PowerBall number ranging from one and 26.
Power Play is an option for your ticket, which gives you the opportunity to multiply your earnings if you win a prize. This is worth another dollar, but it could increase the prize you have won. The double play uses the same numbers once again for another draw.
Power Play takes your current winnings and then multiplies by the multiplier that randomly comes up during the draw, like 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X the amount.
The 10X multiplier is great, but it can only be used for prizes that are below the jackpot and the five white ball numbers (million dollars). Once the jackpot reaches over $150 million, it is no longer available for any prize.
If you win the jackpot, there are two options for payouts. There is a 30-year annuity, or players can take the prize in one large sum, but heavy taxes are placed up front.
The 30-year option distributes the winnings evenly each year and calls for fewer taxes throughout the process. If you were to take the cash in a lump sum, you would be subject to more taxes, and you will definitely have less money than taking the 30-year option.
Odds, Price, and Prizes for Powerball
The overall odds of winning a single prize for Powerball are one in 25. Purchasing an additional ticket could slightly increase your chances of winning a prize.
The jackpot has odds of one in 292,201,338, while the million dollars (five white balls) are odds of one in 11,688,054. For the $100,000 winners, they matched four white balls and had the 2X multiplier, which has odds of one in 913,130.
Prizes range from $4 all the way to the current jackpot that always grows. Each ticket costs two dollars, but add-ons could make it cost a dollar higher.
