Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, offering massive jackpot prizes that can grow into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Powerball is currently offered by 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, there are 5 states that do not participate in the Powerball lottery.
The 5 states that do not offer Powerball are:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Nevada
- Utah
These 5 states do not sell Powerball tickets or allow their residents to play. If you live in one of these states, you’ll have to travel to a participating Powerball state if you want to buy tickets and try to win the Powerball jackpot.
Why don’t these states offer Powerball?
There are a few reasons why the above 5 states don’t participate in Powerball:
- Alabama – Has its own lottery games and does not participate in multi-state lottery games.
- Alaska – Does not have a state lottery at all.
- Hawaii – Also does not have a state lottery system.
- Nevada – Has its own lottery games and doesn’t participate in multi-state games. Also has heavy casino gambling presence.
- Utah – Lottery games are prohibited by state law.
So in summary:
- Alabama and Nevada want to keep money in-state rather than sending it to the Multi-State Lottery Association.
- Alaska and Hawaii simply do not operate state lottery games.
- Utah has moral/legal opposition to all lottery games.
Can you drive to a nearby state to buy Powerball tickets?
Yes, if you live near the state border in one of the non-participating Powerball states, you can cross state lines to purchase tickets.
For example, if you live in southeast Utah near the border with Colorado, you could drive into Colorado to a convenience store or gas station to buy Powerball tickets. The same goes for northeast Nevada residents – they could drive into Idaho or other nearby states.
However, it’s important to note that you can only redeem winning Powerball tickets in the state where you purchased them. So if you bought the ticket in Colorado but live in Utah, you would have to drive back to Colorado to cash in any prizes.
Can you legally purchase Powerball tickets online?
There are some online lottery ticket courier services that will purchase official Powerball tickets on your behalf from a participating state and then deliver the ticket to you by mail. This option may allow you to play Powerball while living in a non-participating state.
However, the legality of these online courier services can be tricky and varies by state. Some states allow the purchase of lottery tickets online, while others prohibit it. Most official state lotteries warn that purchasing lottery tickets online from unauthorized resellers carries risks.
For example, the Colorado Lottery writes:
“Colorado Lottery tickets will be void if sold or purchased through online resellers that are not approved by the lottery. Customers run the risk of losing their money or not having their money reach the seller from whom the tickets are actually being purchased.”
So if you decide to use an online ticket courier service, be sure to do your research to find a legitimate and authorized company. And know the laws in your state before purchasing Powerball tickets over the internet.
Where can you find the official rules and procedures for Powerball?
The official Powerball website (www.powerball.com) contains the game’s complete rules, procedures, and FAQs. This is the most authoritative source for how Powerball tickets are sold, prizes paid, how to claim winnings, and more.
Here are some of the key official resources on the Powerball website:
- How to Play – Overview of Powerball game and ticket purchase.
- Prizes and Odds – Jackpot odds, second prize odds, overall odds of winning any prize.
- FAQs – Common questions about playing and winning.
- State Contacts – Lottery contacts for each participating state.
In addition to the website, you can usually find information about where and how to play Powerball in local convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. that sell lottery tickets. They are required to make the official rules available.
What are the biggest Powerball jackpots of all time?
Here are the Top 10 biggest Powerball jackpots to date:
| Jackpot Amount | Date Won | Winning State(s) |
|---|---|---|
| $1.586 billion | 1/13/2016 | California, Florida, Tennessee |
| $768.4 million | 3/27/2019 | Wisconsin |
| $758.7 million | 8/23/2017 | Massachusetts |
| $731.1 million | 1/20/2021 | Maryland |
| $699.8 million | 10/4/2021 | California |
| $687.8 million | 10/27/2018 | Iowa, New York |
| $656 million | 3/30/2012 | Kansas, Illinois, Maryland |
| $648 million | 12/17/2013 | California, Georgia |
| $590.5 million | 5/18/2013 | Florida |
| $587.5 million | 11/28/2012 | Arizona, Missouri |
As you can see, there have been some truly massive jackpots awarded in Powerball over the years. The current record jackpot of $1.586 billion was split between three tickets in January 2016. Winning Powerball’s jackpot can mean hundreds of millions in cash instantly!
What are the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot?
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are incredibly slim, at just 1 in 292,201,338. This means you have a 0.0000003% chance of matching all 5 white balls plus the red Powerball to hit the jackpot prize.
Those long odds explain why the jackpots can grow so large, sometimes exceeding half a billion dollars before someone finally wins. To put the odds in perspective, you are more likely to:
- Be struck by lightning (1 in 1,101,000 chance)
- Be attacked by a shark (1 in 11.5 million chance)
- Become president of the United States (1 in 10 million chance)
Than you are to hit the Powerball jackpot. Of course people do occasionally beat the odds and win, which is what attracts so many players. But it’s important to always play responsibly given how unlikely a jackpot is.
What are the odds of winning any Powerball prize?
Looking beyond just the jackpot, your overall odds of winning any prize in Powerball are much better. The odds of winning one of the non-jackpot prizes are:
- 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 3 White Balls – 1 in 580
- Match 2 White Balls + Powerball – 1 in 701
- Match 1 White Ball + Powerball – 1 in 92
- Match Powerball Only – 1 in 38
When you add up the odds for all these prize levels, your overall chance of winning something rises to 1 in 24. That’s nearly 300 times higher than your jackpot odds!
How are Powerball jackpots funded and how do they grow so large?
Powerball jackpots start at $40 million and grow based on ticket sales and rolls without someone hitting the jackpot. Each time the jackpot rolls over, more and more players buy tickets, increasing the potential prize up until someone finally wins.
50% of each ticket sold goes towards the jackpot pool. The other 50% funds the lower-tier cash prizes. If no players match all 6 numbers, the jackpot rolls over to the next drawing and grows larger.
Powerball also has a liability limit that caps how large the jackpot can grow based on ticket sales. Once the liability exceeds the limit, extra funds are used to fund the lower prize tiers and add more winners. The liability cap prevents jackpots from exceeding the game’s ability to fund the prizes.
Which state has had the most Powerball jackpot winners?
The state with the highest number of Powerball jackpot winners to date is Indiana, with 39 wins. Here are the top 5 states:
| State | Number of Jackpots Won |
|---|---|
| Indiana | 39 |
| Missouri | 31 |
| Minnesota | 22 |
| Kansas | 19 |
| Wisconsin | 17 |
The most likely factors giving these states an edge are higher population and more active lottery players rather than just luck. More people playing in a state means more chances for someone to hit the winning numbers.
Which retail chains sell the most winning Powerball tickets?
Over the years, these stores have sold the most winning Powerball jackpot tickets according to the Multi-State Lottery Association:
- 7-Eleven – 33 jackpot winners
- Publix – 30 jackpot winners
- RaceTrac – 25 jackpot winners
- Circle K – 22 jackpot winners
- QuikTrip – 21 jackpot winners
The most winning tickets have been sold in supermarket chains like Publix and Albertsons, and convenience/gas chains like 7-Eleven, Circle K, and QuikTrip. With thousands of locations across Powerball states, they generate a high volume of ticket sales.
What was the biggest Powerball prize won in each non-participating state?
The following are the biggest known Powerball prizes won by residents of each non-participating state. The tickets were likely purchased across state lines.
| State | Largest Powerball Prize Won |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1 million |
| Alaska | $100,000 |
| Hawaii | $1 million |
| Nevada | $315 million |
| Utah | $250,000 |
Some fortunate individuals living near state borders still managed to claim large Powerball prizes by purchasing tickets while traveling or having a friend or family member buy for them. But no residents of non-participating states have ever hit one of the biggest jackpots, which would require purchasing the winning ticket within the state.
Conclusion
In summary, Powerball lottery tickets are sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The 5 exceptions are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. These states either have laws prohibiting lotteries or simply don’t participate in multi-state games. Residents may be able to legally purchase tickets by crossing state lines or using an online courier service.
While winning the Powerball jackpot is incredibly rare, thousands of people each year win smaller prizes ranging from $4 up to the millions. Some retailers seem to sell more big winning tickets based on their high ticket volume. And certain states like Indiana and Missouri have had disproportionate jackpot luck over the years.
But in the end, the very remote odds of taking home a jackpot apply to all players regardless of geography. For fun and entertainment, getting a ticket when the jackpot is big can be thrilling. Just remember to play responsibly.