The Powerball numbers are drawn on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. This is when the winning numbers are selected by a random number generator at the Florida Lottery studios in Tallahassee. The drawings are supervised by auditors and independent observers to ensure fair play.
When to Buy Powerball Tickets
You must buy your Powerball ticket by 9:59 p.m. Eastern Time on draw nights to be eligible to win a prize for that drawing. Many lottery retailers stop selling tickets at least an hour before the drawing, so don’t wait until the last minute. Powerball tickets cost $2 each, or $3 if you add the Power Play option which can multiply non-jackpot prizes. You choose five main numbers from 1 to 69, and one Powerball number from 1 to 26.
Watch the Powerball Drawing Live
The Powerball drawings are streamed live online at Powerball.com and on participating TV stations. The drawings are also available to watch after the fact on the Powerball YouTube channel. The balls are selected by a random number generator, not drawn by hand. First the five white balls are drawn, followed by the red Powerball. The order of the five white balls drawn does not matter. The complete winning numbers are shown onscreen during the broadcast.
How to Check Powerball Results
There are several ways to look up the latest Powerball results after a drawing takes place at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights:
- Visit the Powerball website: The winning numbers will be posted shortly after each drawing at Powerball.com.
- Official Powerball app: Download the free app for Android or iOS to get the winning numbers sent directly to your phone.
- Watch the broadcast: Tune in to your local TV station that airs the Powerball drawings to see the winning combo.
- News outlets: Check newspaper and online news sites which typically post the numbers shortly after the drawing.
- Retailers: The winning numbers will be displayed at local lottery retailers after the drawing.
How to Win the Powerball Jackpot
You win the Powerball jackpot by matching all six numbers drawn – the five white balls plus the red Powerball. The odds of hitting the jackpot are incredibly steep at 1 in 292.2 million. All six numbers on your ticket must match the drawn numbers exactly in any order. The Power Play option does not apply to the jackpot prize which starts at $40 million and rolls over each drawing until there is a winner. Announced jackpots are based on annuity option payments over 30 years.
Tiers of Powerball Prizes
There are nine total Powerball prize tiers based on how many numbers you match:
- Match 5+PB: Jackpot prize starting at $40 million.
- Match 5: $1 million second prize.
- Match 4+PB: $50,000.
- Match 4: $100.
- Match 3+PB: $100.
- Match 3: $7.
- Match 2+PB: $7.
- Match 1+PB: $4.
- Match PB: $4.
The Power Play option for an extra $1 can multiply any non-jackpot prize (except Match 5) by up to 5 times if the 10X Power Play multiplier is drawn. Power Play does not apply to the jackpot.
Odds of Winning Powerball
| Prize Level | Odds (1 in…) |
|---|---|
| Jackpot | 292,201,338 |
| Match 5 | 11,688,053 |
| Match 4 + PB | 913,129 |
| Match 4 | 36,525 |
| Match 3 + PB | 14,494 |
| Match 3 | 580 |
| Match 2 + PB | 702 |
| Match 1 + PB | 91 |
| Match PB | 38 |
As you can see, the odds of winning any Powerball prize are about 1 in 25. The odds of taking home the jackpot are about 1 in 292 million. But you can’t win if you don’t play!
Strategies for Playing Powerball
There is no guaranteed strategy for winning Powerball since every combination has an equal chance of being drawn. However, there are some approaches players use to try improving their odds:
Choose Your Own Numbers
Letting the lottery terminal randomly select your numbers (called Quick Pick) doesn’t affect your chances. But many players prefer to choose their own numbers, selecting birthdates, anniversaries, lucky numbers, etc. This gives them a sense of control even though the odds are the same.
Join a Lottery Pool
Joining an office or group lottery pool allows you to buy more tickets and combinations while sharing the cost. This improves your collective odds of winning a prize. Just be sure to create a binding legal agreement on how to divide winnings.
Mix Up Your Picks
Don’t use predictable number patterns on your playslip like all birthdates. Instead, mix up your five main numbers across the entire 1-69 range. Also vary the Powerball number you choose each time. Random number combinations have the same odds.
Consider Playing Consistently
Forgetting to play means passing up a chance to win. Buying tickets consistently, even if just one ticket, improves your overall odds by participating in more drawings. Just don’t go overboard and only gamble what you can afford to lose.
Record Powerball Jackpots
A few of the largest Powerball jackpots in history include:
- $1.586 Billion – January 13, 2016 – California, Florida, Tennessee
- $768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – Wisconsin
- $758.7 Million – August 23, 2017 – Massachusetts
- $731.1 Million – January 20, 2021 – Maryland
- $699.8 Million – October 4, 2021 – California
Jackpots this massive generate huge interest from players across the country. The more tickets sold, the bigger the jackpot can grow. Announced jackpots are based on the annuity option paid over 30 annual installments. Most jackpot winners take the reduced cash option.
Powerball Winners By State
| State | # of Jackpot Winners | Total Prizes Won |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 39 | $9.5 Billion |
| Missouri | 31 | $5.8 Billion |
| Minnesota | 22 | $22.7 Million |
| Kentucky | 20 | $9.6 Billion |
| Louisiana | 20 | $1.1 Billion |
This table shows the states with the most Powerball jackpot winners to date. Indiana holds the record with 39 winning tickets over the years. However, total prizes won is a better indicator since massive jackpots distort the numbers. States like Indiana and Missouri have had more smaller Powerball winners historically.
Biggest Individual Powerball Winners By State
| State | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| California | Anonymous | $699.8 Million |
| Wisconsin | Manuel Franco | $768.4 Million |
| Massachusetts | Mavis Wanczyk | $758.7 Million |
| Michigan | Donald Lawson | $337 Million |
| South Carolina | Anonymous | $1.537 Billion |
This table shows the biggest individual Powerball jackpot winners in each state. Usually the largest prizes are split by multiple winning tickets. But a few lucky solo winners have hit record jackpots all for themselves.
How Powerball Works
Powerball is a multi-state lottery draw game available in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Here is an overview of how the popular lottery game works:
- Drawings: Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern.
- Gameplay: Players select 5 main numbers from 1-69 and one Powerball from 1-26. Prizes are based on how many numbers match.
- Odds: The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292 million. Overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 25.
- Taxes: Federal tax withholding of 24% applies to Powerball prizes of $600 or more. State taxes may also apply.
- Tickets: Tickets cost $2 each, or $3 with the Power Play multiplier option to increase non-jackpot prizes.
- Payouts: All prizes are set cash amounts except the jackpot. Players choose cash or annuity for jackpots.
- Rollovers: If there are no jackpot winners, the top prize rolls over to increase the jackpot for the next drawing.
- Records: The biggest Powerball jackpot ever awarded was a $1.586 billion prize on 1/13/2016 split by three tickets.
How to Claim Powerball Prizes
For any Powerball prizes you match, follow these steps to redeem your winnings properly:
- Sign the back of your physical Powerball ticket immediately. This establishes ownership.
- Keep your ticket in a safe place until ready to claim. Protect it from loss or theft.
- Bring your ticket to a state lottery office, headquarters, or a local claim center.
- The lottery will validate your ticket and pay out your prize amount.
- You will need to complete a claim form for tax purposes.
- Applicable federal and state taxes will be withheld if over certain thresholds.
Be sure to double check your ticket since mistakes do happen. And sign it right away for security. You generally have 180 days to claim Powerball prizes in the jurisdiction where the ticket was purchased. Unclaimed prizes go back to the state.
Conclusion
The Powerball drawings take place three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Winning numbers are selected by a random number generator and results are posted at Powerball.com and online shortly after the drawing. Strategies for improving your odds include joining an office pool, consistently playing, and mixing up your number picks. Jackpots start at $40 million and roll over each drawing until a ticket matches all six numbers. Players have beaten the astronomical odds to win record prizes over the years, proving that someone eventually wins!
