Powerball – Knowe the art of playing

Powerball is a combined large jackpot game and a cash game. Every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time, we draw five white balls out of a drum with 59 balls and one red ball out of a drum with 35 red balls. Draw sales cut off at least 59 minutes before the draw. Check for local cut-off time.

Players win by matching one of the 9 Ways to Win. The jackpot (won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red Powerball) is either an annuitized prize paid out over 29 years (30 payments) or a lump sum payment. Each ticket costs $2. If the winner chooses the annuity, the annual payment will be increased each year by the percentage set out in the Powerball game rules.

The second prize (won by matching five white balls in any order) is $1,000,000 paid in cash and any time you match the red Powerball, you win. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game are approximately 1 in 32.

Power Play® is a special feature that allows a winner to increase the original prize amount. Powerball players winning any prize other than the jackpot will win a larger cash prize. The Match 5+0 prize with Power Play option grows to $2,000,000. The Power Play option costs $1 and must be selected when you buy your Powerball ticket. As with any lottery prize, if an extremely popular number is drawn and there is not enough money in the prize pools or reserves to cover it, we may need to reduce the prize.

The $2 Powerball is bigger and better than ever! Overall odds are 1:31.8. Choose five (5) numbers plus one (1) Powerball number to have a chance to win. You can increase your non-grand/jackpot prize winnings by choosing the Power Play® feature for $1 more per play.

• Powerball jackpots start at $40 million!
• Second tier (Match 5+0) prize amount is $1 Million! If you choose Power Play, you can increase this prize tier to $2 Million!
• You can ask your Texas Lottery retailer for a “Quick Pick” and the terminal will pick all your numbers for you!
• There are 9 ways to win!
• Drawings are broadcast each Wednesday and Saturday at 10:12 p.m. CT. Ticket sales are not available during Draw Break, from 9:00 – 10:15 p.m.

Pick 5 Numbers
Select 5 numbers from 1 to 59 in the upper play area of the playboard, or mark the “QP” box and the terminal will pick your numbers for you.
Pick Your Powerball Number
Select 1 Powerball number from 1 to 35 in the lower play area of the playboard, or mark the “QP” box and the terminal will select your Powerball number.
Power your play with Power Play*!
Choose the Power Play feature for an extra $1 per play and you could increase your non-Grand/Jackpot prize winnings by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times! Mark the “YES” box under “Power Play” to select this feature for all playboards on the playslip. The Power Play number will be chosen from a field of 10 numbers according to the following frequency: five 2’s, three 3’s, one 4 and one 5. Click here to see the Power Play prize chart.
*A Power Play Match Five (5+0) is set at $2,000,000 regardless of the Power Play number selected. All other non-Grand/Jackpot prizes will be multiplied by the Power Play number selected.

1. Multi-Draw Option
For added convenience, you can play your numbers for up to 10 drawings. Mark the appropriate box under “Multi-Draw” and this will play your numbers indicated on playboards “A through E” for the number of drawings you select. Each playboard costs $2 per drawing.

2. Grand/Jackpot Prize** Payment Options
You must select at the time of purchase how you want to be paid if you win the Grand/Jackpot prize.
ANNUAL PAYMENTS: Mark the “30 Annual Payments” box for payment of a Grand/Jackpot Prize in 30 annual graduated installments. Annual payments for Powerball are not equal. Each payment will be greater than the previous year’s payment

CASH VALUE: Mark the “Cash Value Option” box for a single payment of the net present value of a Grand/Jackpot Prize. This amount will be less than the advertised jackpot which is based on 30 annual graduated payments. You may not change the payment option at a later date. If you do not select a payment option your playslip will be rejected.

**The Grand/Jackpot Prize is pari-mutuel and will be divided equally by the number of Grand/Jackpot prize winners. The Powerball Grand/Jackpot amount that is advertised is not always a guaranteed amount, it is an estimated amount. A Grand/Jackpot prize winner may receive less than the advertised amount based on actual Powerball game sales and interest rates for long-term investments.

Sources:

http://www.txlottery.org/

http://www.powerball.com/