PowerPlay is an optional feature, when playing in powerball american lottery. Players might activate PowerPlay option for additional payment.
Once PowerPlay function is activated. It allows players to multiply lottery winnings, by certain number ranging from 2 to 10. Therefore PowerPlay is also called simply; multiplier.
Starting in October 2015, 10x multiplier become permanent feature in Powerball lottery.
But, Multiplier 10x is available only when, the main prize in Powerball remains equal or below $150 million USD.
Before recent changes.
Couple of times in the past, PowerBall lottery operators offered special promotions. When multiplier was increased up to 10x. However the last time such a promotion appeared, was it in May 2010.
Availability of the PowerPlay option creates certain dilemma, for those players participating in American powerball lottery. They always have to consider, whether they should buy more lottery tickets, in order to maximize the chances of winning main jackpot prize. Or perhaps buy less Powerball lottery tickets and remaining funds spend on adding PowerPlay option. This would ensure that they increase payouts for lower level prizes. However, in exchange for reducing chances, to win main jackpot prize. Since they would have less lottery tickets, to participate in a game.
How exactly this PowerPlay option works?
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During Powerball American lottery draw, there is additional ball, which is randomly selected, in order to determine multiplier level.
Below details and examples are based on rules before changes in October 2015.
In order to give you general idea about “PowerPlay” function.
Because, we do not know exactly yet, how many additional balls (to represent each multiplier) after recent changes.
There are additional 30 balls, each represents different multiplier.
15 balls with 2x multiplier. (chances to choose 1:10)
9 balls with 3x multiplier. (chances to choose 1:10)
3 balls with 4x multiplier. (chances to choose 1:3)
3 balls with 5x multiplier. (chances to choose 1:2)
A one ball is randomly selected, with corresponding multiplier. Then, selected multiplier is applied to PowerBall winnings.
For example, fifth prize, $100 could be transformed, into final payout of $500 (providing that number 5 comes up as a multiplier) if multiplier number equals to 4, $100 winnings is transformed into $400, and so on, multiplier equals to 3 = $300 and 2 = $200.
Please bear in mind that PowerPlay function is not applied to main jackpot prizes in powerball American lottery!
Second prize stays always fixed at $2million, regardless of the actual multiplier level.
Because all this might be a bit confusing at first glance.
Therefore, we are answering the following question.
How PowerPlay function affects prize payouts?
In Powerball American lottery.
Enter Powerball lottery draw today, click here:
Exhaustive answer presented below:
Main Jackpot prize (multiplier does not apply)
Second prize: (5 main numbers plus Powerball number)
Without multiplier PowerPlay = $1million
With multiplier PowerPlay; 2x,3x,4x,5x = $2million
Third prize: (5 main numbers)
Without option multiplier = $10,000
With option Power Play: 2x = $20,000 / 3x = $30,000 / 4x = $40,000 / 5x = $50,000
Fourth and fifth prize. (4 main numbers plus PowerBall number) or (4 main numbers only)
Without option multiplier = $100
With option Power Play: 2x = $200 / 3x = $300 / 4x = $400 / 5x = $500
Sixth and seventh prize. (3 main numbers only) or (2 main numbers plus PowerBall number)
Without option multiplier = $7
With option Power Play: 2x = $14 / 3x = $21 / 4x = $28 / 5x = $35
Eighth and Ninth prize. (1 main number + PowerBall number) or (PowerBall number only)
Without option multiplier = $4
With option Power Play: 2x = $8 / 3x = $12 / 4x = $16 / 5x = $20
Above payouts structure valid since 19th January 2014, previously payout structure was slightly different.
Overall, introducing PowerPlay option has become a great success. It greatly, influenced some other lottery operators and encouraged them to introduce similar option for their lottery players. For example; similar option is available in MegaMillions under the name Megaplier. Also, HotLotto from California introduced similar option under the name Sizzler.
We hope this short article gave an answer to a question: