First section of this article explains current rules how to play Powerball American lottery. In the next section of this article, we look at evolution of game rules, by listing some important historical changes in the Powerball lottery.
To play American lottery Powerball, click here.
Alternative option to play Powerball lottery,
click here.
Current rules of the game. To play in Powerball American lottery.
Currently, lottery players in order to play Powerball lottery must select 5 numbers from a set of 69 main numbers. (Also called White Balls)
Additionally, lottery players must select one extra Powerball number from a pot of 26 numbers. (Also called Red balls)
Also, for additional payment Powerball players are able to purchase special option “Powerplay” (multiplier). To read more about Powerplay function click here. In a nut shell Powerplay feature allows to multiply all winnings by 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10. (Except the main prize)
To win main prize a player must correctly select all 5 numbers plus Powerball number.
However, for selecting correctly any other combinations there are other secondary prizes available, presented in table below:
| prize divisions | matching range | Payout for each winner. (without multiplier) |
| 1 jackpot | 5 numbers + powerball | Main prize |
| 2 prize | 5 numbers | $ 1.000.000 |
| 3 prize | 4 numbers + powerball | $ 50.000 |
| 4 prize | 4 numbers | $ 100 |
| 5 prize | 3 numbers + powerball | $ 100 |
| 6 prize | 3 numbers | $ 7 |
| 7 prize | 2 numbers + powerball | $ 7 |
| 8 prize | 1 number + powerball | $ 4 |
| 9 prize | only powerball number | $ 4 |
Currently:
Overall chances of winning a prize in lottery Powerball USA are 1 in 24.87 In total there are nine prize categories.
Detailed chances of winning in USA Powerball presented in table below:
| prize divisions | matching range | chances of winning in USA powerball lottery |
| 1 jackpot | 5 numbers + powerball | 1:292,201,338 |
| 2 prize | 5 numbers | 1:11,688,053 |
| 3 prize | 4 numbers + powerball | 1:913,129 |
| 4 prize | 4 numbers | 1:36,525 |
| 5 prize | 3 numbers + powerball | 1:14,494 |
| 6 prize | 3 numbers | 1:579 |
| 7 prize | 2 numbers + powerball | 1:701 |
| 8 prize | 1 number + powerball | 1:92 |
| 9 prize | only powerball number | 1:38 |
Rules to play in American Powerball lottery weren’t always the same. The rules of the Powerball lottery are changing from time to time.
Previously there were different rules to play Powerball American lottery. Quite recently new changes to Powerball game has been introduced, namely in October 2015.
Each time when the rules of the game are changing, it affects chances of winning Powerball prizes.
Let’s have a look at history of changes. Plus let’s analyse impact on chances of winning in Powerball lottery.
History of game rules changes. To play in American Powerball lottery.
From the beginning of Powerball lottery, there were always two separate sets of numbers.
Main numbers (also called White balls)
and
Powerball numbers (also called Red balls)
Also, number of balls selected from each set of numbers remain the same all the time.
Namely, pick 5 lucky numbers from the pool of main numbers. and pick 1 lucky number from pool of Powerball numbers.
However, number of balls in each pool of numbers was different over the time.
Impact on chances of winning in Powerball lottery.
On 22 April 1992, Powerball lotto has been launched replacing “Lotto America”.
Initially inside the double drums:
45 white balls
45 red balls
Resulting in chances to winning main Powerball prize was equal to: 1:54.979.154
On 5 November 1997, Powerball lottery operators decided to:
increase number of main numbers, up to 49 from previously 45
and
decrease number of Powerball numbers down to 42 from previously 45
Those changes resulted in decreased chance of winning main Powerball prize:
1:80.089.127
On 7 March 2001, there were no changes in number of balls. Therefore chances of winning jackpot prize remained the same.
However “PowerPlay” multiplier was introduced for the first time.
Initially, all Powerball prizes (except the main prize) could be multiplied by 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
On 9 October 2002
number of main numbers increased up to 53
number of red balls remained the same: 42
As a result, the chances to win main prize decreased:
and was equal to: 1:120.526.769
On 28 August 2005,
2 additional balls added to set of main numbers, (in total 55 white balls)
resulting in further decrease chances of winning main prize, down to: 1:146.107.961
On 7 January 2009,
more balls added to the pool of main numbers, totalling 59
but number of red balls reduced from 42 down to 39
odds of winning main prize decreased even more:
down to 1:195.249.054
On 15 January 2012, only number of red balls changed, decreasing from 39 down to 35
This time, however, chances to win main prize actually increased:
up to: 1:175.223.510
Option multiplier “PowerPlay” was no longer offered to lottery players.
On 19 January 2014, multiplier option “PowerPlay” was introduced back to Powerball lottery game.
Finally, the latest changes took place on 7 October 2015.
This time, Powerball operator decided to:
increase number of white balls up to 69, from previously 59
and
decrease number of red balls down to 26, from previously 35
Those changes had huge impact on chances of winning main prize, decreasing dramatically those chances.
Currently, chances to win main Powerball prize equals to: 1:292.201.338
Also, new multiplier “PowerPlay” (10 times multiplier) was introduced for the first time.