Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States. The game offers incredibly large jackpot prizes that can grow to hundreds of millions of dollars. While the odds of winning the grand prize jackpot are incredibly slim at 1 in 292 million, players still have a reasonable chance of winning smaller prizes if they match some of the winning numbers.
Quick Answer: How Much For Matching One Number?
If you match just one of the five white ball numbers in Powerball, you win $4. This is the minimum prize for matching any numbers in the game.
Powerball Game Basics
To play Powerball, players select five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. To win the jackpot, you must match all five main numbers and the Powerball. There are also eight other ways to win smaller prizes.
The Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday evening. Tickets cost $2 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes with the Power Play option for an additional $1 per ticket. This increases the prize payouts by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x the regular amount.
Match One Number
The minimum prize in Powerball is $4. This is awarded when you match just one of the five main numbers correctly. For example, if the winning numbers are:
5, 23, 45, 63, 69 Powerball 7
And your ticket has:
12, 18, 30, 44, 63
You would match only one number – the 63. For matching this one number, you would win $4.
Key Details on $4 Prize
- Win $4 when you match just one of the five main numbers.
- Does not include matching the Powerball.
- Odds of matching one number are 1 in 61.
- $4 is the minimum prize paid in Powerball.
- Can be multiplied up to 10x with Power Play.
Multiplying With Power Play
For an extra $1 per ticket, you can add the Power Play option to multiply your lower-tier winnings. Here is how it works for matching one number:
| Power Play Multiplier | $4 Prize Amount |
|---|---|
| 2X | $8 |
| 3X | $12 |
| 4X | $16 |
| 5X | $20 |
| 10X | $40 |
As shown in the table, the $4 prize can be multiplied to as much as $40 by adding Power Play. The Powerball drawings determine the multiplier used each time. Overall, Power Play gives you the chance to increase your winnings by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or even 10x the regular prize amount!
Odds of Matching One Number
The odds of matching just one number in Powerball are 1 in 61. This makes matching one number one of the more likely prizes you can win.
Here are the odds for all the Powerball prizes:
| Prize | Odds |
|---|---|
| Grand Prize Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Match 5 Main Numbers | 1 in 11,688,053 |
| Match 4 Main Numbers + Powerball | 1 in 913,129 |
| Match 4 Main Numbers | 1 in 36,525 |
| Match 3 Main Numbers + Powerball | 1 in 14,494 |
| Match 3 Main Numbers | 1 in 579 |
| Match 2 Main Numbers + Powerball | 1 in 701 |
| Match 1 Main Number + Powerball | 1 in 92 |
| Match 0 Main Numbers + Powerball | 1 in 38 |
| Match 1 Main Number | 1 in 61 |
With odds of just 1 in 61, matching one number is one of the easier prizes to win, compared to matching two, three, four or five main numbers.
Calculating Your Winnings
When playing multiple Powerball tickets, you’ll want to carefully check your numbers after the drawing to see if you matched any numbers. Here are some examples of how to calculate your winnings if you match one number:
Example 1
- You play 10 tickets for one Powerball drawing
- Each ticket costs $2, so you spent $20 total
- On one of your tickets, you match one number
- You win $4 for matching one number on that one ticket
In this situation, you would win $4 back on your total $20 spent on 10 tickets. Matching one number on one ticket earns you the $4 prize amount.
Example 2
- You purchase 20 Powerball tickets at $2 each, spending $40 total
- On three of those tickets, you match one number
- You win $4 on each ticket that matched one number
Here you matched one number on three separate tickets. So you would win 3 x $4 = $12. With 20 tickets purchased for $40, you won $12 back in this scenario.
Example 3
- You buy 5 Powerball tickets with Power Play added for $3 each
- The Power Play multiplier drawn is 4X
- On two of your tickets, you match one number
Since you added Power Play, your $4 prize is multiplied by 4x. So on each of the two tickets, you win $4 x 4 = $16. With two winning tickets, your total winnings are 2 x $16 = $32. By adding Power Play, your winnings were quadrupled!
Taxes on Winnings
It’s important to keep in mind that Powerball prizes are subject to both federal and state taxes. The tax rates vary depending on where you purchased your ticket and where you live.
Federal taxes withheld from Powerball prizes are:
- 24% for winnings up to $5,000
- 37% for winnings between $5,001 and $10,000
- 39.6% for winnings over $10,000
State taxes withheld range from 2.9% to 8.82%, depending on the state. Some locations like Florida, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming do not tax lottery winnings at all.
For a $4 Powerball prize, no taxes are typically withheld. But the IRS still requires winners to report all gambling winnings. You would need to report the $4 if you match one number, even though tax is not withheld.
Claiming Your $4 Prize
For small Powerball prizes like $4 for matching one number, you typically have the option of claiming your winnings either from a retail lottery location or by mail. Here are the details on both options:
Claim From Retailer
To claim your $4 prize from the retailer where you purchased your ticket, follow these steps:
- Return to the same retail location where you bought your Powerball ticket
- Present your winning ticket to the cashier or clerk
- The retailer will verify your ticket and prize amount
- You will receive cash for the $4 won
This is usually the fastest and most convenient way to claim Powerball prizes up to $600. Just cash in your ticket at the same store that sold it to you.
Claim By Mail
If you cannot return to the original retailer, you can also claim your $4 prize by mail. Here is the process:
- Find a Powerball claim form online for your specific state
- Fill out the claim form with your personal details
- Make a copy of your winning ticket
- Mail the completed claim form and ticket copy to the lottery
- Wait for your check in the mail from the lottery
Mailing in your winning ticket takes longer but allows you to claim from anywhere. Make sure to keep your ticket in a safe place while you wait for your check.
Other Small Prize Payouts
In addition to the $4 for matching one number, there are a few other small prizes in Powerball:
- Match 0 Main Numbers + Powerball – $4 Prize
- Match 2 Main Numbers – $7 Prize
- Match 1 Main Number + Powerball – $4 Prize
These small prizes let you win some cash back even if you don’t match many numbers. Powerball is designed this way so players have a reasonable chance of winning something on every ticket.
Big Differences in Payouts
While matching one number earns you $4, the payouts grow tremendously the more numbers you match. Here’s a comparison:
| Match | Prize Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 number | $4 |
| 2 numbers | $7 |
| 3 numbers | $7 |
| 4 numbers | $100 |
| 5 numbers | $1,000,000 |
| 5 numbers + Powerball | Jackpot |
As you can see, the prize money quickly escalates from just $4 for matching one number up to the multimillion dollar jackpot for matching all five numbers and the Powerball. While the odds get much tougher, the potential payout grows exponentially.
Should You Play Powerball?
Playing the lottery is entertainment and not a reliable way to build wealth. Your chance of losing money is much higher than winning. With that said, Powerball can be fun to play occasionally for the thrill of a possible big jackpot win.
The $4 prize for matching one number is a nice consolation prize. Players have a 1 in 61 chance of winning $4, compared to odds of 1 in 292 million for the jackpot. It lets you win a little something while you chase the big jackpot.
Overall, play Powerball responsibly within your entertainment budget. And if you do match one number, enjoy your $4 winnings!
Conclusion
In Powerball, matching just one of the five main numbers earns a $4 prize. This is the minimum amount awarded in the game. While $4 is a small prize, matching one number still gives you decent 1 in 61 odds of winning. With the optional Power Play add-on, the $4 can be multiplied up to 10 times to $40. Taxes are not withheld on the $4, but it still must be reported to the IRS. For small prizes, you can typically claim your $4 payout directly from the retailer or by mailing in your ticket. Powerball’s $4 prize for matching one number is a nice extra payout while you try your luck at the game’s huge jackpot.
