Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, offering players the chance to win jackpots worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Like other lotto games, Powerball requires players to match a certain number of numbers to win prizes. But what happens if you match just two numbers on your Powerball ticket? Do you still win anything?
Quick Answer
Yes, matching two numbers on a Powerball ticket will win you a prize, although it is a small one. Specifically, matching just the Powerball number or just one number from 1 to 69 earns you $4 per play. Matching two numbers from 1 to 69 (and no Powerball match) earns you $7 per play.
How Powerball Works
To play Powerball, you first select five main numbers from 1 to 69, and then select one Powerball number from 1 to 26. During the Powerball drawing, five white balls are drawn from one drum representing the main numbers pool, and then one red Powerball is drawn from a second drum.
To win the Powerball jackpot, you must match all five white balls in exact order, as well as the red Powerball. The minimum starting jackpot is $40 million, and it continues growing until a ticket matches all six numbers. Jackpots frequently climb into the hundreds of millions before a winner is found.
Powerball Prizes
In addition to the jackpot, there are eight other Powerball prize tiers:
Prize | Match | Odds (1 in) |
---|---|---|
$4 prize | Match just the Powerball | 38.3 |
$4 prize | Match one number + Powerball | 91.9 |
$7 prize | Match two numbers | 701 |
$100 prize | Match three numbers | 14,494 |
$100 prize | Match two numbers + Powerball | 913 |
$50,000 prize | Match four numbers | 36,525 |
$1 million prize | Match four numbers + Powerball | 11,688 |
Jackpot | Match five numbers + Powerball | 292,201,338 |
As the table shows, matching just two numbers on your Powerball ticket means you win a $7 prize. This is not a huge amount, but it does mean that two matching numbers results in a small payout.
Requirements to Win $7 Prize
Specifically, here is what you need to do to win the $7 prize in Powerball:
- Select five main numbers from 1 to 69.
- Select one Powerball number from 1 to 26.
- Match exactly two of the main numbers you selected.
- You do not need to match any other numbers.
As long as you match two and only two of your main numbers, you win $7. The Powerball number does not matter. And one or three+ main number matches will earn you a different prize amount.
Examples
Here are some examples to further illustrate winning $7 by matching two main numbers:
- You select numbers 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and Powerball 5.
- The winning numbers drawn are 4, 8, 10, 32, 41 and Powerball 13.
- You match 10, so you win $7.
- You select numbers 1, 12, 23, 34, 45 and Powerball 16.
- The winning numbers drawn are 2, 15, 23, 38, 42 and Powerball 7.
- You match 23, so you win $7.
- You select numbers 9, 18, 27, 36, 55 and Powerball 20.
- The winning numbers drawn are 9, 36, 42, 51, 60 and Powerball 22.
- You match 9 and 36, so you win $7.
As you can see, matching exactly two main numbers always earns you a $7 prize in Powerball, regardless of the Powerball number or other main numbers drawn.
Why You Only Win $7
Matching two numbers in Powerball earns such a small prize because the odds of matching two numbers are relatively high compared to other prize levels. The odds of matching two numbers are only 1 in 701. Here are the odds for each Powerball prize tier again for comparison:
Prize | Odds (1 in) |
---|---|
$4 prize | 38.3 |
$4 prize | 91.9 |
$7 prize | 701 |
$100 prize | 14,494 |
$100 prize | 913 |
$50,000 prize | 36,525 |
$1 million prize | 11,688 |
Jackpot | 292,201,338 |
With odds of only 1 in 701, matching two numbers is one of the easiest prizes to win. So it pays out just $7 to offset the higher frequency of winners. On the other hand, matching all five main numbers has much lower odds of 1 in 11,688. So Powerball can afford to pay $1 million per winner while still making a profit.
Playing Strategies
While the $7 for two numbers prize is low, it does provide useful information when playing Powerball strategically:
- Don’t waste money playing just the Powerball number. Paying $2 for a 1 in 38 chance at $4 is not good expected value.
- Make sure your Powerball ticket has at least two different main numbers to guarantee some return.
- Focus on choosing two or three main numbers you think have a good chance of being picked, then complete your selection randomly.
So while $7 is not a big payout, it’s still nice to win something. And playing strategically using the two number prize gives you better odds than playing randomly.
Claiming Your $7 Prize
To claim a $7 Powerball prize, you generally have two options:
- Present your winning ticket at any authorized lottery retailer in the jurisdiction where you purchased it. The retailer can validate the win and pay out the $7 prize amount.
- Mail your winning ticket to the lottery headquarters for your jurisdiction. Include your contact information so they can send your $7 check. Once received and validated, they will mail a check to your address.
Most lottery jurisdictions recommend you sign the back of the ticket and keep it in a safe place until claiming. Powerball tickets expire 180 days from the drawing date, so make sure to claim your $7 prize before then.
Taxes
For such a small prize amount, taxes are not generally withheld. But you still must report the $7 when filing your tax return, and pay any tax owed based on your specific situation.
Remaining Anonymous
While bigger prizes often allow a trust to claim anonymously, small $7 winners must claim in person or provide their address to receive payment. However, Powerball will not publicize the names or information of small prize winners unless required by law.
Other Ways to Win $7
In addition to matching two main numbers, there are a couple other ways you could win $7 playing Powerball:
- Match Just Powerball: Matching only the Powerball earns a $4 prize. Playing the Powerplay option for an extra $1 per play can boost this to $7.
- Match One Main + Powerball: Matching one main number and the Powerball wins $4. Again, adding Powerplay can increase it to $7.
However, both these methods have much longer odds compared to simply matching two main numbers. So from an odds perspective, two main numbers is the best route to scoring a $7 prize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you win money without matching any numbers in Powerball?
No, you cannot win any prize in Powerball without matching at least one number. At minimum, you must match either the Powerball number or one of the main numbers to win.
What’s the biggest prize you can win matching just two numbers?
The $7 prize is the maximum you can win for matching just two numbers in Powerball. The only way to win higher amounts is to match three or more numbers.
Do both matched numbers have to be among the first 5 main numbers?
Yes, to win $7 you must match two of the first five main numbers you selected. Matching one main number and the Powerball number does not qualify for this prize.
Can you win $7 for matching two numbers plus Powerball?
No, matching two main numbers and the Powerball wins a $100 prize, not $7. You only win $7 for matching exactly two numbers with no other matches.
Conclusion
In summary, it is possible to win money in Powerball even if you only match two numbers on your ticket. Matching just two of the main numbers earns a $7 prize. While not a big jackpot, it’s still nice to win something, and the premium over the $2 ticket cost provides helpful insight into strategic play.
With odds of 1 in 701, two number matches are common enough that the payout must remain small for Powerball to profit. But following a strategy focused on maximizing your chances of matching at least two numbers can improve your overall expected return.
So next time you play Powerball, remember that even matching just two numbers gets you your money back plus a little extra. And over many tickets, those small prizes can really add up!