Powerball is an American lottery operated by the
Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a consortium of lottery commissions in
29 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. MUSL is
licensed as the monopoly provider of multistate lotteries in these
jurisdictions.
Powerball's predecessor began in 1988[2] as
Lotto*America; the game, and name, were officially changed to Powerball on
April 19, 1992. Powerball was the brainchild of Ed Stanek of the Iowa State
Lottery Commission. The matrix has been changed periodically.
On March 4, 2001, an optional multiplier wheel (called
"PowerPlay") was added. On November 2, 1997, the annuity period was changed
from 20 to 25 years, and the cash option was added. The annuity currently
consists of 30 graduated payments (increasing annually) over a period of 29
years.
Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The most recent announcement of a nine-figure
Powerball jackpot winner ($100 million or higher annuity value) was for a
ticket bought in Westover, West Virginia, at a video lottery establishment
known as "Paula's", which was the sole winner of the March 15, 2008 drawing,
and which was worth approximately $276.3 million (annuity value; the winner(s),
who have yet to be officially identified, can choose the cash option of $136.34
million instead). Among notable nine-figure wins prior to this was on a ticket
that was purchased in Richmond, Indiana; that community had also produced the
then-U.S. record $295.7 million (annuity) winning ticket for Powerball (July
29, 1998.
The MUSL games Hot Lotto and even Wild Card 2 are
played the same as Powerball, albeit with smaller jackpots, and in only some of
the MUSL jurisdictions, although Hot Lotto is scattered in mostly northern
states.
How to Play Powerball
Powerball is a lotto game which 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 55 balls and one red ball out
of a drum with 42 red balls.
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. If the winner chooses the annuity, the annual payment
will be increased each year by the percentage set out in the Powerball game
rules.
You no longer have to select the payment option at the time of
purchase. The tax law has changed to give you up to 60 days until after you
claim the prize to decide whether you want cash or the annuity option. The
second prize (won by matching five white balls in any order) is $200,000 paid
in cash. Any time you match the red PowerBall, you win. The overall odds of
winning a prize in the game are better than 1 in 37.
Power Play is a
special feature that allows a winner to multiply the original prize amount.
Powerball players can multiply their Powerball prizes by 2,3,4 or 5 times (does
not include the jackpot). A player must choose the Power Play option when they
buy their Powerball ticket, and then the ticket must match one of the
non-jackpot prizes before the multiplier takes effect.
Powerball is played in 29 States, Washington D.C. and
the US Virgin Islands. Play Powerball, It's America's Game!
- $295.7 million July 1998
- $294.8 million August 2001
- $195 million May 1998
- $111.2 million July 1993
- $101.8 million March 1995
- $101 million November 1994
- $100 million* March 2000
- $89.5 million December 1993
- $89.3 million January 1996
- $87.6 million June 1995
Participating
Powerball
Jurisdictions |
Population
in
Millions |
FY2006
Total
Lottery
Sales ($m) |
FY2006
P/Ball
Sales ($m) |
P/Ball
% of
Sales |
Annual
Per
Capita
P/Ball Spend |
| Arizona |
5.83 |
$468.69
|
$157.98
|
33.71% |
$27.10 |
| Colorado |
4.6 |
$3,585.00
|
$119.76
|
3.34% |
$26.03 |
| Connecticut |
3.48 |
$970.32
|
$121.93
|
12.57% |
$35.04 |
| D.C. Lottery |
0.55 |
$265.20
|
$50.80
|
19.16% |
$92.36 |
| Delaware |
0.83 |
$727.99
|
$40.85
|
5.61% |
$49.22 |
| Hoosier |
6.08 |
$816.35
|
$159.82
|
19.58% |
$26.29 |
| Idaho |
1.39 |
$131.13
|
$47.96
|
36.57% |
$34.50 |
| Iowa |
2.95 |
$336.22
|
$80.75
|
24.02% |
$27.37 |
| Kansas |
2.74 |
$236.38
|
$58.84
|
24.89% |
$21.47 |
| Kentucky |
4.15 |
$742.32
|
$117.65
|
15.85% |
$28.35 |
| Louisiana |
4.52 |
$332.12
|
$108.54
|
32.68% |
$24.01 |
| Maine |
1.32 |
$229.69
|
$32.29
|
14.06% |
$24.46 |
| Minnesota |
5.14 |
$450.38
|
$127.67
|
28.35% |
$24.84 |
| Missouri |
5.75 |
$915.73
|
$151.92
|
16.59% |
$26.42 |
| Montana |
0.93 |
$39.91
|
$24.07
|
60.31% |
$25.88 |
| Nebraska |
1.75 |
$113.11
|
$40.13
|
35.48% |
$22.93 |
| NewHamp |
1.3 |
$262.77
|
$27.26
|
10.37% |
$20.97 |
| NewMexico |
1.9 |
$154.72
|
$54.22
|
35.04% |
$28.54 |
| Nth Dakota |
0.63 |
$22.30
|
$22.30
|
100.00% |
$35.40 |
| Oregon |
3.62 |
1095.93 |
$59.07
|
5.39% |
$16.32 |
| Psylvania |
12.41 |
$3,070.27
|
$448.07
|
14.59% |
$36.11 |
| RhodeIsland |
1.08 |
$1,731.48
|
$57.20
|
3.30% |
$52.96 |
| Sth Carolina |
4.2 |
$1,144.61
|
$221.81
|
19.38% |
$52.81 |
| Sth Dakota |
0.77 |
$686.01
|
$18.96
|
2.76% |
$24.62 |
| Tennessee |
5.96 |
$996.28
|
$190.95
|
19.17% |
$32.04 |
| Vermont |
0.62 |
$105.36
|
$14.93
|
14.17% |
$24.08 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands |
0.1 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Wisconsin |
5.51 |
$508.90
|
$113.29
|
22.26% |
$20.56 |
| West Virginia |
1.8 |
$1,522.51
|
$68.86
|
4.52% |
$38.26 |
| TOTALS |
85.9 |
$21,661.68 |
$2,737.88 |
12.64% |
$31.87 |
America's favorite lottery is
played in 29 States, Washington D.C. and the US Virgin
Islands.
Participating Powerball
Jurisdictions |
Population in Millions |
FY2005 Game Sales
(in
millions) |
FY2006 Game Sales
(in
millions) |
%
Change Year on
Year |
% of
P/Ball
sales |
| Arizona |
5.83 |
$106.48
|
$157.98
|
48.37% |
5.77% |
| Colorado |
4.6 |
$80.91
|
$119.76
|
48.02% |
4.37% |
| Connecticut |
3.5 |
$79.56
|
$121.93
|
53.26% |
4.45% |
| D.C. Lottery |
0.57 |
$33.74
|
$50.80
|
50.56% |
1.86% |
| Delaware |
0.83 |
$25.43
|
$40.85
|
60.64% |
1.49% |
| Hoosier |
6.08 |
$120.32
|
$159.82
|
32.83% |
5.84% |
| Idaho |
1.39 |
$30.04
|
$47.96
|
59.65% |
1.75% |
| Iowa |
2.95 |
$64.69
|
$80.75
|
24.83% |
2.95% |
| Kansas |
2.74 |
$46.70
|
$58.84
|
26.00% |
2.15% |
| Kentucky |
4.15 |
$108.00
|
$117.65
|
8.94% |
4.30% |
| Louisiana |
4.52 |
$91.36
|
$108.54
|
18.80% |
3.96% |
| Maine |
1.32 |
$26.25
|
$32.29
|
23.01% |
1.18% |
| Minnesota |
5.14 |
$109.13
|
$127.67
|
16.99% |
4.66% |
| Missouri |
5.75 |
$114.48
|
$151.92
|
32.70% |
5.55% |
| Montana |
0.93 |
$19.01
|
$24.07
|
26.62% |
0.88% |
| Nebraska |
1.75 |
$30.51
|
$40.13
|
31.53% |
1.47% |
| New Hampshire |
1.3 |
$39.09
|
$27.26
|
-30.26% |
1.00% |
| New Mexico |
1.9 |
$36.30
|
$54.22
|
49.37% |
1.98% |
| North Dakota |
0.63 |
$19.15
|
$22.30
|
16.45% |
0.81% |
| Oregon |
3.62 |
$35.00
|
$59.07
|
68.77% |
2.16% |
| Pennsylvania |
12.41 |
$293.86
|
$448.07
|
52.48% |
16.37% |
| Rhode Island |
1.08 |
$41.97
|
$57.20
|
36.29% |
2.09% |
| South Carolina |
4.2 |
$178.94
|
$221.81
|
23.96% |
8.10% |
| South Dakota |
0.77 |
$14.55
|
$18.96
|
30.31% |
0.69% |
| Tennessee |
5.96 |
$146.67
|
$190.95
|
30.19% |
6.97% |
| Vermont |
0.62 |
$11.75
|
$14.93
|
27.06% |
0.55% |
| Virgin Islands |
0.62 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
| Wisconsin |
5.51 |
$79.30
|
$113.29
|
42.86% |
4.14% |
| West Virginia |
1.8 |
$52.56
|
$68.86
|
31.01% |
2.52% |
| TOTALS |
85.9 |
$2,035.75 |
$2,737.88 |
34.49% |
100.00% |
SOURCE: NASPL
| News
2010 |
| April 19, 2010 |
Powerball Hits
Quarter-Billion Dollar Mark |
| April 9, 2010 |
Powerball Sales; Game
Starts in Ohio April 16 |
| March 24, 2010 |
Powerball Now Available On
FNB Cellphone Banking |
| March 20, 2010 |
Powerball is Holding Its
Own Against Mega Millions in Michigan |
| March 1, 2010 |
Jefferson City Group Forges
Ahead, Named Lottery Team of the Month |
| February 19, 2010 |
Price Increase Means
Powerball Players Will Play for Bigger Prizes |
| February 1, 2010 |
Powerball® and Mega
Millions® Join Forces to Create Largest Market for Jackpot Games in the
United States |
| January 23, 2010 |
Powerball Goes On Sale
January 31 in Washington |
| January 23, 2010 |
Powerball Goes On Sale
January 31 in Washington |
| January 16, 2010 |
Washington’s Lottery
to Start Selling Powerball On January 31 |
| January 17, 2010 |
Powerball Will Begin in New
York on February 3 |
| January 16, 2010 |
Washington’s Lottery
to Start Selling Powerball On January 31 |
| January 11, 2010 |
Cross Selling Powerball and
Mega Millions Tickets Could Produce Smaller Jackpots |
Coming November 29 Buy
your Powerball® and Megabucks Plus Subscriptions at any New Hampshire
Lottery Retail Location!
CONCORD, New Hampshire (November
23, 2009) - As of November 29, players will be able to purchase Tri-State
Megabucks Plus and Powerball/Powerball with Power Play subscriptions from any
of our 1,200 lottery retailers statewide!........................Subscribers
Another Multistate Game
Available In South Carolina By End Of January
COLUMBIA,
South Carolina (November 11, 2009) - MegaMillions will join the ranks of
the popular Powerball game as the state's second $1 ticket that offers lucky
players a long-shot, multimillion-dollar payoff for picking six
numbers.................Subscribers
Multistate Lotteries
Blurring Lines
The division between Powerball and
Mega Millions will become fuzzier because of a cross-selling
arrangement.
URBANDALE, Iowa (November 9, 2009) - Starting in
January, the state lines currently separating the country into Powerball states
and Mega Millions states will be further eroded as the two games enter a
cross-selling arrangement.......................Subscribers
Arizona Lottery Gives
Away Free Powerball Tickets That Could Be Worth $66 Million
Purchasers of Millionaire Raffle “Holiday Edition” by
Nov. 19 receive free Powerball ticket
PHOENIX, Arizona
(November 4, 2009) - Just in time for the growing Powerball jackpot currently
sitting at $66 million for tonight’s drawing, the Arizona Lottery is
doling out free Powerball tickets to players who purchase an Arizona Lottery
Millionaire Raffle...................Subscribers
Arkansas Scholarship
Lottery Powerball Sales Exceed $1 Million Since Launch
Little Rock, Arkansas (November 5, 2009) - The Arkansas Scholarship
Lottery (ASL) celebrated the advent of the sale of Powerball® tickets by
announcing that total sales were $1,095,100, through November 4, 2009. Arkansas
became the 31st state, along with the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin
Islands........................Subscribers
New Mexico Lottery
Approves Mega Millions
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (October
27, 2009) – In a special meeting today, the New Mexico Lottery’s
board of directors voted in favor of introducing another multi-state jackpot
game similar to Powerball®.......................Subscribers
Agreement May Bring
Powerball® To Texas
AUSTIN, Texas (October 12, 2009)
– The Texas Lottery Commission announced today that an agreement in
principle has been reached between the Mega
Millions® consortium and the Multi-State
Lottery Association (MUSL) to allow for the sale of both
Mega Millions and Powerball®
tickets in all U.S. lottery jurisdictions..................Subscribers
Powerball Could Be
Available In The Bay State As Soon As January
BOSTON,
Massachusetts (October 10, 2009) – It was reported today that Treasurer
Tim Cahill, has scored a Powerball bonanza that finally will give Bay State
lottery players a chance to play the popular multimillion-dollar numbers
game................Subscribers
Powerball Could Be
Available In The Bay State As Soon As January
BOSTON,
Massachusetts (October 10, 2009) – It was reported today that Treasurer
Tim Cahill, has scored a Powerball bonanza that finally will give Bay State
lottery players a chance to play the popular multimillion-dollar numbers
game................Subscribers
South Carolina Powerball
Ticket Wins $259.9 Million Jackpot
ORLANDO, Florida (August
20, 2009) - A Powerball ticket sold in South Carolina matched all 6 of the
numbers drawn to win last night's Powerball jackpot worth almost $260
million..............Subscribers
Lotto Fever Hits as
Multistate Jackpots Grow
NEW YORK, USA (August 16, 2009) --
The Powerball lottery game, played in more than 30 states, now has a jackpot of
$245 million for Wednesday night's drawing. The other big multistate lottery
Mega Millions now has an estimated jackpot of $170 million for Tuesday night's
drawing.....................Subscribers
$232.1 Million Powerball
Jackpot Ticket Sold in South Dakota
PIERRE, South Dakota
(May 28, 2009) -- The town of Winner has lived up to its name in the biggest of
ways. The single jackpot-winning ticket for last night’s Powerball drawing
was sold in Winner, South Dakota. The ticket matched all five white balls
and the red Powerball to win the $232.1 million
jackpot.......................Subscribers
Massachusetts Senate OKs
Powerball, Nixes Slots at Tracks
BOSTON, Massachusetts (May
21, 2009) – According to local media reports the Massachusetts Senate
voted on Thursday to join the multistate lottery game Powerball but rejecting
proposals to add slot machines at racetracks and delay a ban on greyhound
racing.......................Subscribers
State
Lottery May Soon Include Powerball Game
SEATTLE, Washington
(March 23, 2009) -- A proposal that will be heard before the Senate Ways and
Means committee this afternoon would allow the Washington Lottery to link with other
multi-state games without getting Legislative permission
first...................Subscribers
New
Jersey Looks to Add Second Multi-State Lottery Game
NEW
JERSEY (March 9, 2009) -- New Jersey could become the first to participate in
two multistate lotteries...................Subscribers
Powerball Boosting Overall Florida Lottery
Sales
FLORIDA, USA (February 25, 2009) – According to a
report by local media source WJHG-TV the multi-state game, Powerball, is
cannibalizing other Florida Lottery
products, but boosting overall sales.................Subscribers
$163
million Powerball Ticket Sold in Indiana
LAWRENCEBURG,
Indiana (January 19, 2009) -- The manager of a southeastern Indiana convenience
store that sold Powerball ticket worth an estimated $163.5 million hopes the
winner is one of her regular customers................Subscribers
Sales
For Florida’s First Powerball® Drawing Top $7 Million – Best Ever
First-Time Sales Nationwide!
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (January
8, 2008) -- The Florida Lottery today
announced that POWERBALL® ticket sales for the first drawing totaled
$7,730,306; more than any other state’s first draw sales in POWERBALL
history. In fact.....................Subscribers
First
Day Powerball® Sales Top $1.5 Million!
TALLAHASSEE,
Florida (January 5, 2009) -- The Florida Lottery today announced that
POWERBALL® ticket sales totaled more than
$1.5 million on the first day of sales, Sunday, January 4,
2009..................Subscribers
Powerball Tickets Printed in Error
BOISE,
Idaho (January 4, 2009) – A small number of Idaho Lottery tickets printed
for Powerball, beginning with this coming
Wednesday night’s $105 million jackpot, were printed in
error..................Subscribers
Florida Lottery Congratulates Universal Orlando Resort on
Becoming The New Home For Powerball Drawings
TALLAHASSEE,
Florida (January 2, 2009) -- Beginning Wednesday, January 7, 2009,
POWERBALL® drawings will be broadcast from
Sound Stage 19 at Universal Orlando Resort - just in time for the launch of the
multi-state lottery game in the sunshine state. The POWERBALL drawings will
continue to................Subscribers
Enhanced Powerball Game Will Debut Jan. 7 - Opening Jackpot
Will Increase to $20 Million
MIDDLETOWN, Pennsylvania
(December 4, 2008) -- The first drawing of the enhanced Powerball game,
featuring the nation's largest starting jackpot, will be held Wednesday, Jan.
7.................Subscribers
Lottery Suspends Powerball Multidraw in Preparation for 2009
Game Changes
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (October 6, 2008) -- In
order to prepare for Powerball game changes coming Jan. 4, 2009, the
Louisiana Lottery Corporation announced
that it would temporarily and progressively suspend the multidraw purchase
option for Powerball tickets, beginning Oct. 22, 2008...............Subscribers
Nine
Roswell Residents Claim $206.9 Million Powerball®
Jackpot
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (October 3, 2008) -- Friends
from Roswell came to the New Mexico Lottery
today to collect a Powerball® jackpot of $206.9 million..............Subscribers
New
Mexico Lottery Sells $200 Million Powerball Jackpot
Ticket
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (September 27, 2008) --
The New Mexico Lottery announced tonight
that it sold the winning ticket for the $200 million Powerball jackpot prize
drawn tonight. It was the only winning ticket nationwide. It is the
largest Powerball prize ever won in New Mexico................Subscribers
Powerball TV Show Host Ready To Hang Up The
Tuxedo
DES MOINES, Iowa (September 8, 2008 -- Powerball TV
show host Mike Pace's number is just about up. Pace, who has been the national
TV face of the multistate lottery game that started as Lotto America in 1987
and morphed to Powerball in 1992, will call out his last winning numbers at a
West Des Moines studio in January..................Subscribers
Powerball ® Game Set To Change
BERLIN,
Vermont, USA (August 13, 2008) - The 31 lotteries that operate the multi-state,
multi-million dollar jackpot game, Powerball, recently approved game changes
designed to create larger, faster growing jackpots and more millionaires. The
new version of Powerball is expected to take effect in January 2009, when
Florida joins the game.................Subscribers
Jackpot-Winning Powerball® Ticket Worth $86.3 Million Sold
in Pennsylvania
WILLOW STREET, Pennsylvania, USA (August 4,
2008) -- Pennsylvania Lottery officials
today announced the sole jackpot-winning ticket worth $86.3 million from the
Aug. 2, 2008, Powerball® drawing was sold in Lancaster
County....................Subscribers
Lawmaker Expresses Dismay at Televised Powerball Drawing Being
Moved from Des Moines to Florida
DES MOINES, Iowa, USA (July
21, 2008) – During the Legislature's Oversight Committee meeting on Monday
Rep. Wayne Ford (D-Des Moines) expressed dismay that the televised Powerball
drawing is being moved from West Des Moines to Florida when that state joins
the 32-member consortium....................Subscribers
$84.9
Million Powerball Jackpot Won!
POWERBALL, Iowa, USA (July 3,
2008) -- One lucky ticket in Oklahoma
matched all 6 numbers Wednesday evening and walked away with the $84.9 million
jackpot. The holder of the winning ticket will now have to decide to either
take the 29-year, 30-installment annuity, or take the one-time cash "lump
sum" amount of $41,305,108.
The numbers drawn were 4, 33, 46, 48, 52 and
the Powerball was 17. The Power Play multiplier was 5.
For more information
on Powerball, please visit our website at www.powerball.com.
CONTACT: Doug Orr,
Multi-State Lottery Association,
515-453-1404.
Powerball® Welcomes the Florida Lottery as Its Newest
Partner
POWERBALL, Iowa (July 2, 2008) -- The
Multi-State Lottery (MUSL) announced today
that the Florida Lottery will become the
32nd lottery to add Powerball to its mix of lottery
products...............Subscribers
Florida Lottery Joins
Powerball®
Powerball Drawings Will Move To
Florida In 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, USA (July 2, 2008) – The
Florida Lottery announced today that it
will join the Multi-State Lottery Association
(MUSL) and add Powerball® to its portfolio of games starting in January
2009. Florida will become the 30th state to join the multi-state lottery
game, which is currently offered in 29 states, the District of Columbia and the
U.S. Virgin Islands.............Subscribers
$34.1
Million Powerball Jackpot Won in Louisiana!
IOWA, USA (June
1, 2008) -- One lucky ticket in Louisiana matched all 6 numbers Saturday and
walked away with the $34.1 million jackpot.................Subscribers
$35.3
Million Powerball Jackpot Won in South Carolina!
POWERBALL,
Iowa (May 18, 2008) -- One lucky ticket in South Carolina matched all 6 numbers
Saturday and walked away with the $35.3 million Powerball
jackpot............Subscribers
$180.1
Million Powerball Jackpot Won in Minnesota!
POWERBALL, Iowa,
USA (May 4, 2008) - One lucky ticket in Minnesota matched all 6 numbers
Saturday and walked away with the $180.1 million Powerball jackpot. The holder
of the winning ticket will now have to decide to either take the 29- year,
30-installment annuity, or the one time cash "lump sum" amount of
$88,020,951.................Subscribers
|
