Powerball plus is an additional feature of the popular Powerball lottery game. It gives players the opportunity to win prizes by correctly matching the Powerball number or by matching only certain numbers from the main Powerball drawing. Powerball plus offers larger secondary prizes while still giving players a chance to win the huge Powerball jackpot.
How does Powerball plus work?
Powerball plus is an add-on component to the standard Powerball game. When purchasing a Powerball ticket, players can pay an extra $1 for the Powerball plus option. This activates a second drawing that takes place after the main Powerball draw.
For the Powerball plus drawing, five white balls are drawn from a drum with 69 balls. Players can win prizes by matching some or all of the white balls drawn. The prizes are preset amounts based on how many numbers are matched:
| Match 5 White Balls | $2 million |
| Match 4 White Balls | $50,000 |
| Match 3 White Balls | $100 |
| Match 2 White Balls | $7 |
| Match 1 White Ball | $4 |
| Match 0 White Balls | $2 |
In addition, a red “Powerball” is drawn from a drum with 26 balls. Matching this red Powerball wins a prize of $500.
The prizes for Powerball plus are fixed amounts, unlike the main Powerball game where the jackpot grows based on sales and rolls over if not won. With Powerball plus, the advertised $2 million top prize is always paid out.
When and where is Powerball plus available?
Powerball plus is currently offered in select U.S. lottery jurisdictions that sell Powerball tickets. These include:
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- West Virginia
In these participating states, Powerball plus drawings are held on the same night as the main Powerball drawing, which occurs Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
Powerball plus prizes must be claimed within a year of the drawing. Each state has slightly different rules regarding where and when players can collect Powerball plus prizes.
What are the odds of winning Powerball plus?
The odds of winning a prize in Powerball plus are much better than winning the Powerball jackpot, since players have two chances to win on a single ticket. Here are the overall odds for each prize amount:
| Prize Amount | Odds of Winning |
| $2 million (Match 5 White Balls) | 1 in 11,688,053 |
| $50,000 (Match 4 White Balls) | 1 in 230,115 |
| $100 (Match 3 White Balls) | 1 in 3,792 |
| $7 (Match 2 White Balls) | 1 in 181 |
| $4 (Match 1 White Ball) | 1 in 38 |
| $500 (Match Red Powerball) | 1 in 21 |
| $2 (Match 0 White Balls) | 1 in 6 |
As you can see, matching just the red Powerball offers the best odds, at 1 in 21. Even matching a single white ball, or none at all, provides much better odds than winning the Powerball jackpot, which are around 1 in 292 million.
Can the same numbers win both the Powerball and Powerball plus?
Yes, it’s possible for the same five main numbers to be drawn in both the main Powerball game and the Powerball plus drawing. If this happened, and a player matched all five numbers for both games, they could potentially win the Powerball jackpot and the $2 million Powerball plus top prize.
The Powerball and Powerball plus drawings use separate drawing machines, so the results are independent. But the pool of white balls to choose from is the same – 69 – for both drawings. So matching numbers across both games can occasionally happen.
What are the benefits of playing Powerball plus?
Here are some of the major advantages to playing Powerball plus:
- Better odds – A 1 in 25 overall chance of winning any prize.
- Guaranteed prizes – Set payouts that don’t vary based on sales.
- Lower tier prizes – Matching 1, 2 or 0 balls still wins a prize.
- Extra shot at a jackpot – Main Powerball numbers could duplicate.
- Same jackpot chances – Powerball plus doesn’t impact main drawing odds.
- Add-on feature – Easy to include for just $1 more per play.
While the top prizes may not be as massive as Powerball, the better odds and fixed payouts make Powerball plus appeal to many players. And it still offers the possibility of winning big if the main Powerball jackpot numbers match as well.
What are the drawbacks of Powerball plus?
There are a few potential disadvantages to keep in mind with Powerball plus:
- No massive jackpots – Top prize is capped at $2 million.
- Less flexibility – Players can’t pick their own numbers.
- Not widely available – Only sold in a handful of states.
- Additional cost – Requires extra $1 per Powerball ticket.
- Taxes – Winnings may be subject to both federal and state taxes.
- Split prizes – Prizes could be divided amongst multiple winners.
The top Powerball plus prize is still an amazing amount. But it pales in comparison to Powerball jackpots, which frequently surpass $100 million. Additionally, having to spend $1 extra per ticket along with split winning possibilities can reduce the advantage for more casual players.
Notable Powerball plus winners
Despite much smaller prizes compared to huge Powerball jackpots, Powerball plus has still made dozens of people into millionaires. Here are some notable recent winners:
- In July 2022, a West Virginia couple won the $2 million top prize.
- An Indiana truck driver claimed a $2 million Powerball plus prize in May 2022.
- In March 2022, a Pennsylvania retiree won the $2 million jackpot.
- A Michigan woman won $2 million playing Powerball plus in January 2022.
- In 2021, two winners from South Carolina and one from Indiana each won $2 million top prizes.
- A Pennsylvania man won $2 million on a Powerball plus ticket in 2020.
- In 2019, a couple from South Dakota split a $2 million jackpot win.
These winners took home life-changing amounts of money from matching all five white balls. There have also been thousands of smaller $500, $100, $50, $7 and $4 prize winners over the years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about Powerball plus:
How much does it cost to play Powerball plus?
Powerball plus costs an extra $1 per Powerball play. So a $2 standard Powerball ticket becomes $3 with the Powerball plus add-on. Players must purchase the main Powerball ticket to be eligible to add Powerball plus.
Can Powerball plus be purchased on its own?
No, Powerball plus can only be purchased as an add-on to a standard Powerball play. Players first have to pay $2 for a main Powerball ticket in order to pay the extra dollar for the Powerball plus option.
Do Powerball plus prizes have to be split?
If multiple players match the same winning numbers for any of the set Powerball plus prizes, the prize would be divided equally among them. For example, if 10 people all matched 4 white balls to win $50,000, they would each receive $5,000.
How are Powerball plus prizes paid out?
Powerball plus prizes can be claimed as either a lump-sum or an annuity payment schedule over 30 graduations payments. The advertised prizes are based on the annuity option. Lump sums are typically around half the annuity amount.
Can Powerball plus winners remain anonymous?
Whether winners can remain anonymous varies by state. Some allow for anonymity, while others require the lottery to publicly announce winners’ names and hometowns. Winners should check their state’s privacy laws.
Do other states offer games similar to Powerball plus?
Some states offer extra add-on games similar to Powerball plus. For example, Megaplier is available in Texas and New Hampshire, and Florida sells XTRA with its main lottery games. These mimic the concept of Powerball plus to provide better odds at secondary prizes.
Conclusion
Powerball plus provides a unique extra opportunity for players to win prizes worth hundreds, thousands, or potentially millions of dollars. For an additional $1 per Powerball ticket, players can take home fixed amounts from $2 up to the $2 million jackpot. While not offering the nine and ten-figure jackpots of Mega Millions and Powerball, Powerball plus improves players’ chances of taking home a life-changing prize. It’s an easy add-on feature with better odds just waiting to create the next big Powerball plus winner.
