Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, attracting players with its multi-million dollar jackpots. To win the Powerball jackpot, players must match all 5 white ball numbers and the red Powerball number. But even if you don’t hit the jackpot, smaller prizes can be won by matching some of the numbers. So is matching just 2 numbers on a Powerball ticket a winner?
How the Powerball Lottery Works
Each Powerball play costs $2 and consists of selecting 5 numbers from 1 to 69 (the white balls) and 1 number from 1 to 26 (the red Powerball). During the twice-weekly drawings, 5 white balls are drawn followed by the Powerball. To win the jackpot, you need to match all 5 white balls in any order as well as the red Powerball. The odds of doing this are around 1 in 292 million.
There are also 8 other ways to win smaller prizes in Powerball:
- Match 5 white balls only – $1 million prize (1 in 11,688,054 odds)
- Match 4 white balls and the Powerball – $50,000 prize (1 in 913,129 odds)
- Match 4 white balls only – $100 prize (1 in 36,525 odds)
- Match 3 white balls and the Powerball – $100 prize (1 in 14,494 odds)
- Match 3 white balls only – $7 prize (1 in 579 odds)
- Match 2 white balls and the Powerball – $7 prize (1 in 701 odds)
- Match 1 white ball and the Powerball – $4 prize (1 in 92 odds)
- Match 0 white balls and the Powerball – $4 prize (1 in 38 odds)
As you can see, matching 2 of the white balls is one of the ways to win a prize in Powerball, albeit a small one.
Prize Amount for Matching 2 White Balls
If you match 2 of the 5 white balls in the Powerball drawing, you win $7. This is the 5th prize tier out of the 9 ways to win a prize. While $7 may not seem like a lot, it’s still a winner and beats the $2 spent on the Powerball ticket. With odds of 1 in 701 of matching 2 white balls, this $7 prize is more common than some of the bigger prizes further up on the prize chart.
Increasing Your Match 2 Prize
While matching 2 white Powerballs nets you a $7 prize by default, there are a couple ways you can increase the payout:
- Power Play – For an extra $1 per play, you can purchase the Power Play option which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x. The Power Play number is drawn after the main numbers. If you match 2 white balls with Power Play, your $7 prize can be multiplied to $14, $21, $28, $35 or $70 depending on the Power Play number.
- Prize Pools – Some lotteries run promotions that boost the prize amounts in certain prize tiers like Match 2 white balls. For example, the prize might be temporarily doubled to $14 or tripled to $21. So check if any prize pool promotions are active when you play to maximize your Match 2 payout.
Odds of Matching 2 White Balls
The probability of matching 2 of the 5 white balls in Powerball is around 1 in 701. This makes hitting 2 matching balls one of the more probable ways to win a prize, compared to hitting the Powerball jackpot which is 1 in 292 million!
To put the odds of 1 in 701 into perspective, that means if you play 701 Powerball tickets, you can expect to match 2 white balls and win $7 around once. Of course, each ticket still only has that 1 in 701 chance, but over many tickets those odds start to even out into an expected frequency.
Here are the odds of matching 2 white balls compared to the other Powerball prizes:
| Prize | Odds |
|---|---|
| Match 5 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| Match 5 white balls | 1 in 11,688,054 |
| Match 4 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 913,129 |
| Match 4 white balls | 1 in 36,525 |
| Match 3 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 14,494 |
| Match 2 white balls | 1 in 701 |
| Match 1 white ball + Powerball | 1 in 92 |
| Match 0 white balls + Powerball | 1 in 38 |
As you can see, the odds of hitting 2 matching regular balls are far greater than winning prizes like matching 3 balls, 4 balls, or the jackpot. But it is still one of the more unlikely prizes compared to just matching the Powerball or 1 white ball.
How Often Match 2 Wins
Based on the 1 in 701 odds, we can calculate that matching 2 white balls can be expected to occur once every 701 Powerball tickets. For context, in the United States around 189 million Powerball tickets are sold annually. This amounts to around 269,000 winning Match 2 tickets per year across all Powerball players.
Another way to look at it is per draw. There are 104 Powerball drawings in a year with millions of tickets sold for each. On average, about 2,600 Match 2 winning tickets can be anticipated per draw.
Of course, the actual number of Match 2 winners fluctuates draw to draw, sometimes significantly more or less than the average. It depends on the luck of the draw and number of tickets sold. But over a long period, the number of Match 2 winners will trend toward the expected frequency.
Getting 2 White Balls on a Single Ticket
While the overall odds of matching 2 white balls are 1 in 701, the odds for a single $2 Powerball ticket to hit 2 balls are longer. For a single ticket you have to specifically match 2 out of the 5 white balls, not just 2 random white balls. This works out to:
- 5 white balls available
- Must choose 2 specific balls out of 5
- Order does not matter
Using the combination and permutation formulas leads to odds of 1 in 50 for a single Powerball ticket to match exactly 2 white balls. This is a bit longer than the overall 1 in 701 odds of a random Match 2 win.
So while hitting 2 balls over many tickets purchased happens once every 701 tries, a single ticket only wins by matching 2 specific balls around once in every 50 tickets. Still, it’s one of the more probable prizes for a single $2 ticket.
Maximizing Your Chances to Match 2
While the odds are still long, there are some basic tips that may improve your probability of matching 2 white balls on Powerball:
- Buy multiple tickets – More tickets equals more chances to match 2 balls. But keep in mind responsible playing and only gamble what you can afford to lose.
- Use Quick Pick – Letting the computer randomly pick yourPowerballnumbers helps ensure an even distribution across all 69 white balls. This makes you more likely to catch multiple numbers.
- Avoid consecutive numbers – Picking consecutive numbers like 1-2-3-4-5 reduces your odds since they all fall in a narrow range.
- Avoid single patterns – Choosing just odd/even or high/low numbers reduces variety.
- Mix it up – Try to evenly distribute your picks across the whole 1-69 white ball range to maximize coverage.
At the end of the day, Powerball is a game of chance. But following some basic tips on number selection may give your chances of matching 2 a small boost!
What to Do if You Match 2 White Balls
If good fortune strikes and you match 2 white Powerball numbers, here are some tips on what to do next:
- Sign the ticket – Be sure to sign the back of the ticket to establish ownership in case it’s lost.
- Check your numbers – Double check that you matched 2 balls against the official drawing results.
- Notify the lottery – Alert the lottery commission right away that you won a prize.
- Select payment method – Choose how you want to receive your winnings, either lump sum or annuity.
- Submit claim form – Fill out and submit the claim form along with your ticket to the lottery.
- Receive payment – If everything checks out, you’ll be paid your $7 prize amount (minus taxes if applicable).
Be sure to follow the lottery’s claiming procedures carefully, including any deadlines. Congrats on beating the 1 in 701 odds!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is matching 2 white Powerball numbers?
Matching 2 of the 5 white balls wins a $7 prize in the Powerball lottery. This can increase to $14, $21, or more if you purchased the Power Play option.
What are the odds of getting 2 numbers in Powerball?
The overall odds of randomly matching 2 of the 5 white balls in Powerball are around 1 in 701. For a single $2 ticket, the odds of specifically hitting 2 out of the 5 numbers is around 1 in 50.
Can you win money with 2 Powerball numbers?
Yes, matching exactly 2 of the white ball numbers wins a $7 cash prize. 2 balls is the minimum needed to win a prize (aside from just the Powerball).
How many numbers do you need to win Powerball?
You need to match at least 2 white ball numbers to win a Powerball prize. Matching 2 wins $7, while hitting more numbers wins larger amounts, up to the jackpot for all 5 white balls plus the Powerball.
What is the most common Powerball number?
Over the history of Powerball, the most commonly drawn white ball numbers are 61, 32, 63, 21, and 69. Number 39 was the most common Powerball. But keep in mind each drawing is independent, so past draws don’t predict future numbers.
Conclusion
Matching exactly 2 of the 5 white balls in Powerball wins a $7 cash prize. This has odds of 1 in 701 to occur across all Powerball tickets. For a single $2 ticket, the chance of specifically getting 2 numbers is around 1 in 50. While $7 may seem small, it’s still a prize winner!
With Powerball’s huge jackpot driving sales, an expected 2,600 or so Match 2 tickets can win nationwide for each drawing. Over a year, around 269,000 winning 2-number tickets are anticipated. While the odds are long, tactics like picking a range of numbers can slightly improve your chances.
So while the top prize attracts the most attention, matching just 2 balls still provides excitement and a chance at a piece of the pie. For just $2, a Match 2 win is a bonus, padding your Powerball entertainment budget. Though your odds of instantly becoming a millionaire aren’t great, you’ve got a decent shot at $7 with a well-played pair of numbers!
