The Powerball lottery is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with players hoping to win massive jackpot prizes that can climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Powerball drawings are held three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings, giving players plenty of opportunities to try their luck. For Missouri residents, Powerball provides an exciting chance to possibly win big and change their lives forever. But what time are the Powerball drawings held in Missouri? This article will provide the key details on when Missourians can watch the Powerball drawings and find out if they are instant millionaires.
What days are the Powerball drawings held?
Powerball drawings are held three times a week, every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Since Missouri is in the Central Time zone, the drawings are held at 9:59 p.m. local time in Missouri. This consistent schedule provides steady opportunities for players to participate in the lottery.
Many players like to watch the Powerball drawings live as the winning numbers are selected. Television stations air the drawing nationally, while the drawings are also live streamed online. Players in Missouri can watch the evening drawings at 9:59 p.m. CT on local television stations carrying the live broadcast.
Where do the Powerball drawings take place?
The Powerball drawings are held at the Florida Lottery’s studios in Tallahassee, Florida. Two separate drawing machines are used, one to select the five white ball numbers and the other to select the red Powerball number. The machines and lottery balls are certified and tested regularly to ensure fair results.
While the drawings take place in Florida, participants around the country can watch the results live. The Powerball website also posts the winning numbers immediately after they are drawn for players to check their tickets.
How can I find the winning numbers?
For Missouri players, there are several ways to find the winning numbers after each Powerball drawing:
- Watch the live TV broadcast – Local Missouri television stations air the live lottery drawings at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Check online – The official Powerball website (powerball.com) posts the results immediately after the drawing.
- Visit a local retailer – Winning numbers are typically displayed at the same store where you purchased your ticket.
- Look on lottery mobile apps – The Missouri Lottery official app provides instant winning number notifications.
- Read the next day’s newspaper – Local newspapers print the previous night’s winning numbers.
The Missouri Lottery also has an online number checker where players can enter their tickets to see if they have a winner. Players have 180 days from the draw date to claim any Powerball prizes at a Missouri Lottery retail location.
What are the Powerball jackpots up to now?
Powerball jackpots continue to grow into enormous prizes until a ticket matches all six numbers. Here are the current advertised jackpots as of October 31, 2023:
- Monday, October 31: $700 million
- Wednesday, November 2: $916 million (estimated)
- Saturday, November 5: $1.1 billion (estimated)
These huge jackpots demonstrate how quickly the top prize can rise based on ongoing rollovers. The jackpots start at $20 million and continue climbing by at least $10 million each draw until someone finally wins the jackpot.
What are the odds of winning Powerball?
The odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning jackpots of different amounts are:
- Jackpot (5 white balls + Powerball): 1 in 292,201,338
- $1 million (5 white balls): 1 in 11,688,053.52
- $50,000 (4 white balls + Powerball): 1 in 913,129.18
- $100 (4 white balls): 1 in 36,525.17
- $100 (3 white balls + Powerball): 1 in 14,494.11
- $7 (3 white balls): 1 in 579.76
- $7 (2 white balls + Powerball): 1 in 701.33
- $4 (1 white ball + Powerball): 1 in 91.98
- $4 (Powerball): 1 in 38.32
As you can see, the odds of winning the jackpot are extremely long, but the chances are more reasonable for smaller prize amounts.
What are the basic Powerball rules?
Here is a quick rundown of the basic Powerball game rules:
- Players select five main numbers between 1-69 and one Powerball number between 1-26.
- Tickets cost $2 per play.
- Drawings are held at 9:59 p.m. CT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
- To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.
- Other smaller prizes are won for matching some numbers.
- Jackpots start at $20 million and roll over until won.
- Tickets can be purchased up until 8:59 p.m. CT on draw nights.
- Winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim prizes.
Missouri residents must be at least 18 years old to play Powerball. Tickets can be purchased at over 3,000 retailers across the state.
Where does Powerball lottery revenue go in Missouri?
In Missouri, lottery proceeds go to public education programs across the state. Over $1 billion has gone to education programs just since 2009. The Lottery says this beneficial funding equals about $300 per student each year.
Some of the education programs funded by the Missouri Lottery include:
- Elementary and secondary education in Missouri’s public schools
- Higher education scholarship programs
- Early childhood education initiatives
- Missouri National Guard programs
So when Missouri residents play Powerball, they are contributing to valuable education opportunities for students across the state while also having a chance to win big jackpots for themselves.
Can Missouri Powerball winners remain anonymous?
If you are lucky enough to win a Powerball jackpot in Missouri, you may be wondering if you can keep your identity private rather than have it broadcast publicly. Unfortunately, Missouri does not allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.
When you claim a prize over $600, Missouri law requires that the Missouri Lottery release your name and hometown to the public. The Missouri Lottery says this requirement helps maintain transparency and the integrity of draws.
However, Missouri lottery winners can elect to have their full address and telephone number remain confidential. Only your name and general hometown will be accessible upon public information requests.
Biggest Missouri Powerball winners
While no one from Missouri has ever hit the nationwide record Powerball jackpot, there have been several enormous Missouri winners over the years:
- November 2012: Cindy and Mark Hill from Dearborn won a $293.7 million Powerball prize, splitting the record jackpot at the time with an Arizona couple.
- February 2014: Paul White and 13 other winners across the country split a $448.4 million jackpot. White purchased his ticket at a Trex Mart in Dearborn and took home $149.4 million before taxes.
- May 2015: Marie Holmes won a $188 million Powerball jackpot in North Carolina with a ticket she purchased while passing through on a highway trip. Holmes was originally from O’Fallon, Missouri.
- January 2016: Nigel Mortara and Lisa LaFlora Wells from Republic claimed a $50 million Powerball prize with a ticket purchased at a gas station in Republic.
These major jackpot wins demonstrate that even if the odds are long, it’s still entirely possible for Missouri players to win big.
Why do Powerball jackpots get so big?
There are a few key reasons why Powerball jackpots can grow to such enormous amounts:
- Long odds of winning – The chances of hitting the jackpot are only around 1 in 292 million, making it unlikely anyone will win in a given draw.
- Rollover jackpots – If no ticket matches all six numbers, the jackpot rolls over and increases for the next drawing. This can happen many times in a row.
- Popularity of Powerball – The game is played in 45 states, Washington D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands, so millions of players are vying for the top prize.
- $2 tickets – Relatively inexpensive tickets allow more players to enter the lottery.
- Larger starting jackpots – Powerball jackpots now start at a guaranteed $20 million instead of $15 million, causing them to escalate even faster.
With more people playing and jackpots rolling over draw after draw, the top prizes can quickly multiply to astonishing amounts, even crossing $1 billion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a Missouri Powerball ticket online?
No, Powerball tickets must be purchased in person from licensed retailers in Missouri. The tickets cannot legally be purchased online or from out-of-state retailers.
What happens if no one wins the Powerball jackpot?
If no ticket matches all six numbers drawn, the jackpot will continue rolling over and growing for the next drawing. This can go on for many consecutive drawings until someone finally wins the top prize.
What is thecutoff time to buy Powerball tickets in Missouri?
You can buy Powerball tickets in Missouri up until 8:59 p.m. CT on the night of the drawing. Many retailers stop sales well before the cutoff, so make sure you buy your ticket by early evening.
What is the biggest Powerball jackpot ever won?
The current nationwide record Powerball jackpot is $1.586 billion, won in January 2016 by three ticketholders in California, Florida and Tennessee. Each took home over $327 million as their share.
Has anyone in Missouri ever won the full jackpot by themselves?
So far, every Missouri resident who has won a Powerball jackpot has had to split the top prize with other winners across the country. No Missourian has ever hit the jackpot and won the entire prize by themselves.
What happens if I win the jackpot but my ticket gets lost before claiming?
Make absolutely sure you sign the back of your Powerball ticket as soon as you realize you’ve won. This will help prove ownership if your ticket happens to get lost or stolen before you can claim. Tell no one else about your big win in the meantime.
Conclusion
For Missouri lottery players, Powerball offers the exciting chance to win jackpots that can reach astronomical amounts in the hundreds of millions. Drawings take place at 9:59 p.m. CT every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, so be sure to buy your $2 tickets before the 8:59 p.m. cutoff. Track the winning numbers online, on TV or in the local newspaper the day after the drawings. If you match all five white balls and the red Powerball, you’ll wake up a multi-millionaire! Just be sure to sign the ticket and keep it somewhere extremely safe until you can claim your prize. The odds are stacked against it, but you never know when luck could strike and make you Missouri’s next major Powerball winner.
