Do you win anything if you get the power play number?

What is the power play number?

The power play number is a special number used in lottery games like Powerball and Mega Millions. When you buy a ticket for these games, your ticket has a set of numbers you chose or were randomly assigned. In addition to those numbers, each drawing has a Power Play or Mega Ball number. This is called the “power play number.”

So in short, the power play number is an additional number drawn in certain lottery games that can increase the value of your prize if you win.

How does the power play number work?

If you match all the regular numbers on your ticket to the winning numbers drawn, you win a prize. For example, matching all 5 regular numbers in Powerball wins you $1 million (before taxes).

If you also match the power play number, your prize is multiplied. Powerball prizes are multiplied by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x, depending on the power play number drawn. Mega Millions prizes are multiplied by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x.

So if you win $1 million and the power play number drawn multiplies your prize by 5x, your total prize would be $5 million! The power play number gives you the chance to significantly increase your prize.

Do you have to match the power play number to win a prize?

No, you do not have to match the power play number to win a prize. The power play number only comes into play if you match all the regular numbers on your ticket. It serves to boost the prize you win, but does not enable you to win by itself.

For example, say the winning numbers are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and the power play number is 3. If your ticket matches 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, you would not win anything because you did not match all 5 regular numbers. The power play number does not matter unless you match all the other numbers.

So the power play number alone does not enable you to win a prize. You have to first match all the regular numbers drawn to win, and then the power play can increase what you win.

Can you win a prize for matching just the power play number?

No, you cannot win a prize for only matching the power play number. As explained above, the power play number only acts to multiply the prize if you match all the other regular numbers drawn. It does not enable you to win independently.

Many people mistakenly think matching just the power play number means you win a prize. But the rules of Powerball and Mega Millions clearly state the power play number alone does not win anything. You must match all the other numbers on your ticket as well.

So while the power play number is important for boosting your potential prize, it cannot independently award you a prize if you do not match the other winning numbers. Matching only the power play number does not win anything.

What are some example power play prize increases?

Here are some examples of how the power play number can increase your prize amount if you match all the other winning numbers:

Prize Level Normal Prize With Power Play
Match 5 $1 million $2 million (with 2x power play)
Match 4 + PB $50,000 $150,000 (with 3x power play)
Match 4 $100 $500 (with 5x power play)
Match 3 + PB $100 $1,000 (with 10x power play)

As you can see, the power play number can dramatically increase the amount you win, up to 10 times the normal prize amount! That’s why matching the power play number is so exciting – it can turn a small prize into a huge jackpot.

What is the likelihood of matching the power play number?

The odds of matching the power play number depend on which lottery game you play:

Powerball

There is a 1 in 38 chance of the power play number being drawn as 10x. The other power play numbers have lower odds:

– 2x (1 in 1.31)
– 3x (1 in 3.96)
– 4x (1 in 9.62)
– 5x (1 in 13.97)

Overall, you have about a 1 in 3 chance of having a power play number match when you play Powerball.

Mega Millions

The Mega Millions power play odds are:

– 2x (1 in 2.55)
– 3x (1 in 5.09)
– 4x (1 in 12.61)
– 5x (1 in 15.74)

So your overall odds of having a power play match in Mega Millions are around 1 in 4.

The power play number gives you an extra chance to multiply your prize, but your odds of matching it exactly are still relatively low. Playing with the power play option is a great way to increase your potential winnings if you do match all the other numbers.

Can the power play increase jackpot prizes?

No, the power play number does not increase the size of the jackpot prize if you match all 5 regular numbers plus the Powerball. It only boosts the lower tier prizes.

For example, if you match all 6 numbers in Powerball to win the jackpot, the power play does not boost that multimillion dollar prize. That jackpot will remain the same whether you matched the power play number or not.

However, if you match 5 numbers plus the Powerball for the $1 million second prize, then the power play number can boost it to $2 million, $5 million, or up to $10 million, depending on which multiplier comes up.

So while the huge headline jackpots remain unaffected, the power play can greatly increase your winnings on the smaller prize tiers in Powerball and Mega Millions.

Should you pay extra for the power play option?

Whether you should pay extra to add the power play option comes down to personal preference:

Pros

– Gives you a chance to multiply your winnings by up to 10 times
– Can turn a small prize into a massive windfall
– Exciting extra opportunity to win big

Cons

– Costs extra – usually $1 extra per ticket
– The odds of winning a prize are still very low overall
– Jackpot unaffected by power play number

For many lottery fans, the excitement of possibly multiplying their winnings is worth the small extra cost for the power play. Even though the odds of winning are slim, just the possibility of turning a $100 prize into $1,000 or more is thrilling.

Others feel the extra $1 is not worth it given the very low likelihood of winning in the first place. It comes down to whether you think the extra excitement is worth the cost.

In the end, playing with the power play is optional. You can decide based on your budget and how much enjoyment you get from having the chance to dramatically increase secondary prizes. Either way, you still have a chance to win, only the potential prize amounts differ if you do match all the numbers.

Have there been big power play prize wins?

Yes, there have been some huge prize wins thanks to the power play multiplier. Here are some notable examples:

  • In 2018, a New Hampshire woman won a $559.7 million Powerball jackpot after her prize was multiplied 10 times by the power play.
  • A Virginia truck driver won a $239 million Powerball prize in 2018 after his winnings were quadrupled from $50,000 to $200,000 by the 4x power play number.
  • In 2016, a Tennessee couple multiplied their $1 million Powerball prize to $2 million with the power play.
  • A Pennsylvania man doubled his $1 million Mega Millions prize to $2 million when his power play number hit in 2019.

As you can see, there have been some very sizable power play prize wins over the years. While your overall odds of winning any prize are still low, the power play gives you the chance to take a small win and turn it into a life-changing jackpot.

Final Thoughts

The power play number is an exciting feature in lotteries like Powerball and Mega Millions. While it won’t win you a prize on its own, it can significantly increase your winnings if you match all the other numbers, aside from the jackpot.

Playing with the power play costs a little extra but gives you the thrilling opportunity to multiply a prize up to 10 times its normal amount. There have been some historic power play prize wins over the years.

In the end, whether to pay extra for the power play option comes down to your budget and excitement over the chance to dramatically increase secondary prizes. The power play number alone won’t win you anything, but paired with the right main numbers, it could lead to a sensational lottery win!

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