The American Powerball Lottery is one of the leading lotteries in the US and one of the best known lottery names world wide. It holds the record for the second largest American lottery jackpot at $588 million. With an outstanding reputation and well-known play process, many international lotteries have based their rules and format on the U.S. Powerball, including the Australian, South African, and New Zealand Powerball lotteries.
USA Powerball History
New Record - In 2012, the U.S. Powerball seemed like it would never stop rolling over. After 15 rollovers and having handed out over $100 million in secondary prizes, the popular American lottery finally awarded a record jackpot worth $588 million. In November 2012, the lottery draw found two winning tickets in Missouri and in Arizona, where two lucky ticket holders got to split a jackpot equivalent to seven tons of gold!
The USA Powerball is an updated version of a previous game called “Lotto America” and received its current name in 1992. At the outset, Powerball was offered in 23 states and is now sold in 44.
The powerhouse lottery that broke its jackpot record last November is undergoing Californication! The multi-state lotto’s widespread recognition across the United States and abroad, offers every indication that Powerball will be a huge hit in California where lotto fans have been tapping their fingers since last November. Players in California should take note; California Powerball does not support the Power Play option and the prizing is not fixed but is based on a parimutuel system that determines the size of each prize by sales and number of winning tickets.
USA Powerball Rules
To play Powerball, players choose 5 numbers from a guess range of 1-59 and an additional number (the Powerball) from a different guessing range of 1-35. At the time of the lottery draw, the additional number (the Powerball) is drawn from a separate drum. The additional number allows lottery players to win secondary prizes and is essential to complete the jackpot winning number selection.
When playing the lottery online with theLotter.com, players can choose a 3 or 5 line form and can select numbers with a random number selector (Quick Pick), use pre-selected numbers saved on theLotter (My Lucky Numbers) or manually select numbers (Natural Selection). Additionally, players can ensure they are entered into all lotteries while enjoying incredible discounts with a Subscription or Multi-Draw exclusively at theLotter.
The U.S. Powerball offers a prize multiplier option, called the “Power Play”, that enables players to double to quadruple secondary prizes. The Power Play doubles the second prize to $2,000,000 and multiplies other prizes by 2-4 times, according to the chart below.
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Divisions
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Match
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Regular Win Amount
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Power Play Win Amount
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1
|
5+1 PB
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Jackpot
|
Jackpot
|
|
2
|
5
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$ 1,000,000.00
|
$ 2,000,000.00
|
|
3
|
4+1 PB
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$ 10,000.00
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$40,000.00
|
|
4
|
4
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$ 100.00
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$200.00
|
|
5
|
3+ 1 PB
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$ 100.00
|
$200.00
|
|
6
|
3
|
$ 7.00
|
$14.00
|
|
7
|
2+1 PB
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$ 7.00
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$14.00
|
|
8
|
1 + 1PB
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$ 4.00
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$12.00
|
|
9
|
0+ 1 PB
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$ 4.00
|
$12.00
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The American Powerball is played every Wednesday and Saturday in the US at 23:00 PM EST, and ticket sales close three hours before that night's draw. Players can find the draw results every Sunday and Thursday at 07:00 GMT on theLotter.
Winning the USA Powerball
This American lottery has nine prize categories, and to win the jackpot players must select five numbers as well as the Powerball. Additionally, the additional number (the Powerball) is required to win the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th and 9th prize categories.
Wins are taxed at a rate of 36.00%*, and winners have 60 days to claim their win. In the event of an unclaimed prize, the proceeds are distributed to the 44 states participating, and the funds can be used at their discretion.
USA Powerball winners can choose to collect their winnings in a lump sum ( a jackpot winner’s choice to receive all winnings at once which may be less than the annuitized payment) or through an annuity (any structured fixed jackpot payments that are given over a specified period of time).
The USA Powerball’s historic jackpots include: $588 million shared by two winners in 2012, $365 million shared by eight people in February of 2006, $340 million won by a fortunate family in December of 2002, and a prize of $314 in August of 2007. For players looking for even higher jackpots, the American Mega Millions lotto holds the record for the world's largest jackpot at $656 million.
USA Powerball Anecdotes
The Brooklyn Dodgers - 20 Brooklyn Dodger fans who had worked together in Costco in New York won’t need to be trading baseball cards for cash anymore. In June 2011, the co-workers won the USA Powerball’s $201.9 million jackpot and in commemoration of the team that brought them together proudly called themselves the “1937 Flatbush Avenue Dodgers LLC”.
Just a Hunch - In August 2011, a man from Minnesota had an inkling that night would be his lucky one. So, while he usually purchased one Powerball ticket, he instead decided to purchase five. He was feeling so sure about his good vibe that he told the clerk, “you don’t need to sell any more tickets - I have the winning one". His hunch was spot on as that night one of his five tickets matched the jackpot, enabling him to claim the staggering $228.9 million Powerball lottery jackpot.