Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is POWERBALL^®?

POWERBALL is an exciting, multi-state, multimillion-dollar-jackpot game. It is a product of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and is offered in 45 lottery jurisdictions (including Florida). All POWERBALL member lotteries contribute a percentage of sales to a shared top-prize pool so jackpots can grow to hundreds of millions of dollars. The game's starting jackpot is $40 million and is the largest in the world. POWERBALL has nine prize levels with lower-tier prizes ranging from $4 to $1 million — and up to $2 million with Power Play^®.

2. What other lotteries offer POWERBALL?

POWERBALL is played in 43 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For a complete list of states that offer POWERBALL visit www.powerball.com.

3. Will the revenue generated from Florida ticket sales stay in the state?

As with all other games offered by the Florida Lottery, all profits from POWERBALL ticket sales in Florida will be transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to benefit education in the state.

4. When did POWERBALL sales begin in Florida?

POWERBALL ticket sales in Florida began on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at 6:00 a.m. ET.

5. When did the first POWERBALL drawing in Florida take place?

The first POWERBALL drawing in Florida was held on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 10:59 p.m. ET.

6. How much do POWERBALL tickets cost?

POWERBALL tickets cost $2 per play. POWERBALL with Power Play tickets cost $3 per play.

7. What is the largest POWERBALL jackpot to date?

The largest POWERBALL jackpot to date was a whopping whopping $587.5 million won in Arizona and Missouri on November 28, 2012.

8. Who sets the POWERBALL jackpot and how is it calculated?

The advertised POWERBALL jackpot is set by MUSL for each drawing. Jackpots are calculated based on anticipated sales for that drawing, funds rolled over from previous drawings and current interest rates for long-term investments. For every $2 ticket sold, 31.9756% is allocated to the top-prize pool.

9. What is Power Play?

Power Play is an add-on feature to POWERBALL that gives players a chance to win up to $2 million. When they purchase a POWERBALL ticket, players may add Power Play for $1 more per play to win two to four times their non-jackpot prize winnings. Power Play purchasers who match 5 numbers will win $2 million. All other non-jackpot prizes are set payouts that are 2 to 4 times higher than the base game.

10. Where can I view the POWERBALL drawings?

You may view the POWERBALL drawings on official Florida Lottery TV carrier stations in major markets throughout Florida. Carrier stations will air the drawings, either live or within minutes of the live drawings, or display on-screen the winning numbers following each drawing. Viewing times will vary by station. POWERBALL drawings may also be viewed via Webcasts on this website.

POWERBALL winning numbers will be available on this website, at Florida Lottery retailers statewide, and by phone at (850) 921-PLAY. Also, you may register on this website to receive POWERBALL winning numbers and other Lottery information by email or text message.

11. How do you play POWERBALL?

At any Florida Lottery retail location, you can either mark your selections on a POWERBALL playslip or tell the retailer the numbers you wish to play. On the playslip, select five numbers from 1 to 59 in the upper play area and one Powerball number from 1 to 35 in the lower play area. You may Quick Pick some or all of your numbers by marking the QP box in the upper and/or the lower play areas of the playslip. Make your selections carefully, because POWERBALL TICKETS CANNOT BE CANCELLED.

12. How do you play Power Play?

Simply mark the Power Play box located on the left side of the POWERBALL playslip. Power Play will apply to all panels and Quick Pick boxes you have marked on the playslip. Power Play will add $1 more per play, so check your selections carefully before giving the playslip to the retailer. If you tell the retailer your POWERBALL selections, make sure to ask for Power Play.

13. How will I know which plays on my POWERBALL ticket include Power Play?

Power Play will apply to all plays on a POWERBALL ticket. POWERBALL with Power Play tickets will display "POWER PLAY YES" and POWERBALL tickets with no Power Play will display "POWER PLAY NO."

14. Can I advance play POWERBALL? If so, how many draws?

Yes, you may advance play POWERBALL for up to 52 consecutive draws. If you select Power Play, it will apply to all drawings.

15. How late can I purchase a POWERBALL ticket on a drawing night?

On drawing nights, you will be able to purchase POWERBALL tickets until game sales close at 10:00 p.m. ET. MUSL requires adequate time to ensure that the draw data has been securely received from all 45 member lotteries before the POWERBALL drawing is held at 10:59 p.m. ET.

There will be a 5-minute sales break between 10:00 p.m. and 10:05 p.m. ET on the night of the POWERBALL drawings, and sales after 10:05 p.m. ET will be for the next drawing.

16. Will my POWERBALL playslip from another state work in Florida?

No, all POWERBALL states use different playslips that work exclusively on their gaming systems.

17. On the POWERBALL ticket, how is it possible to have the same number twice on one line?

Since you select five numbers from 1 through 59 and one Powerball number from 1 through 35, it is possible to repeat a number for your Powerball number. The letters "PB" will indicate the Powerball number on your ticket. POWERBALL numbers are drawn from two separate sets of balls in which five white balls and one red Powerball are selected at random.

18. Can I purchase Florida POWERBALL tickets through the Internet or by mail if I live out of the state/country?

No. Florida POWERBALL tickets may only be purchased from the Florida Lottery through terminals at authorized Florida Lottery retailers. Although POWERBALL is sold nationally, each state can only sell POWERBALL within their state.

19. How do you win POWERBALL?

During the POWERBALL drawing conducted by MUSL, five white balls (numbered 1 through 59) and one Powerball (numbered 1 through 35) are randomly selected. Players win the jackpot by matching, in any order, the five numbers drawn from the first set of balls and the Powerball drawn from the second set.

Players win other great POWERBALL prizes, ranging from $4 up to $1 million, by matching non-jackpot winning combinations. Players who add Power Play to their purchase, and match a non-jackpot winning combination, will increase their winnings. (See chart in #23 below for more information.)

20. What are the odds of winning a POWERBALL prize or the POWERBALL jackpot?

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 31.85 and the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 175 million. (See chart in #23 below for more information.)

21. If the red Powerball number is drawn from a set of 35, why are the odds of matching only the Powerball number not 1 in 35?

POWERBALL numbers are drawn from two sets of numbers, so the odds of winning are calculated by combining the odds for both sets of numbers for all prize levels. The odds for the ninth prize level (for matching just the Powerball) are calculated by combining the odds of selecting the Powerball and the odds of not selecting any of the five numbers from the first set of numbers drawn.

22. Are POWERBALL prizes shared?

POWERBALL jackpots are shared among all jackpot winners in all POWERBALL states. All other prize levels are set prizes.

23. How much can I win with Power Play?

All non-jackpot prizes are set payouts that are 2 to 4 times higher than the base game. The match 5 prize will pay $2 million. See chart below for all Power Play prize payouts.

NEW and Improved Odds!

POWERBALL® Ticket Cost $2									POWER PLAY® Add $1 per play
Match							Odds*	Prize	Prize
Overall odds 1:31.85
					+		1:175,223,510	$40,000,000**
							1:5,153,632.65	$1,000,000	$2,000,000
					+		1:648,975.96	$10,000	$40,000
							1:19,087.53	$100	$200
					+		1:12,244.83	$100	$200
							1:360.14	$7	$14
					+		1:706.43	$7	$14
					+		1:110.81	$4	$12
							1:55.41	$4	$12

Power Play has set prize amounts. No multiplier drawing.

*Odds are rounded to the nearest hundredth decimal.

**Jackpots start at $40 million and rollover until won. The jackpot prize will be shared among jackpot winners in all POWERBALL states. All non-jackpot prizes are set payouts. If funds are insufficient to pay set prizes, non-jackpot prizes may be paid on a pari-mutuel basis and could be lower than the amount shown.

24. Is the $2 million in the match 5 Power Play prize paid in cash or as an annuity?

The $2 million Power Play prize will be a one-time cash payment less applicable taxes.

25. Do I have to claim my Florida POWERBALL jackpot prize at MUSL headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa?

No, all Florida POWERBALL prizes including the jackpot are paid in Florida, like all other games offered by the Florida Lottery.

26. Can I claim a Florida POWERBALL winning ticket in another POWERBALL state?

No. All prizes must be claimed in the state where the winning ticket was sold.

27. When do Florida POWERBALL tickets expire?

Florida POWERBALL tickets expire 180 days from the winning drawing date, just like all other terminal games offered by the Florida Lottery.

28. Does the POWERBALL jackpot have a cash option?

Yes. Jackpot winners may choose to receive their portion of a jackpot prize as an annuity payment or a one-time Cash Option. Jackpot prizes must be claimed within the first 60 days after the winning drawing date to receive the Cash Option.

The annuity prize will be paid in 30 annual payments. The amount of the annuity prize is determined by multiplying the winner's share of the Grand Prize pool by the MUSL annuity factor—the best total securities price obtained through a competitive bid of qualified, pre-approved brokers made after the prize is claimed. MUSL will hold the investment and fund the Grand Prize winner's prize payments. Applicable withholding taxes will be deducted at the time payments are made.

29. How long will it take to get my POWERBALL jackpot prize payment?

MUSL requires two weeks to receive wire transfers of funds from all 44 POWERBALL members, so the earliest you may receive your POWERBALL jackpot prize is on the 15th day after the winning drawing date.

30. What happens to the money if a POWERBALL jackpot ticket is won in Florida but is not claimed?

At the end of the winning state's claim period (180 days in Florida), the funds to pay a jackpot that goes unclaimed will be returned to the lottery members in their proportion of sales for the jackpot rollover series.

In Florida, 80% of all unclaimed jackpot prizes are transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to benefit education in the state.

31. Who gets the unclaimed prize money for non-jackpot POWERBALL prizes?

All funds for unclaimed POWERBALL non-jackpot prizes stay in the state where the winning tickets were sold.

32. What happens if a POWERBALL jackpot winner dies before all payments have been made?

The POWERBALL annuity prize will go into the deceased winner's estate. Annual prize payments can continue to be paid to heirs, or the annuity may be cashed out by the winner's estate.