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 48 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 $20 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 and $10 million with Double Play.
2. What other lotteries offer POWERBALL?: POWERBALL is played in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico 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, a portion of every Florida POWERBALL ticket sale 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 January 4, 2009.
5. When did the first POWERBALL drawing in Florida take place?: When the Florida Lottery decided to join POWERBALL, the decision was also made to move the drawings to Florida. Therefore, the first POWERBALL drawing that included Florida players, was also the first POWERBALL drawing conducted in Florida, and it occurred on Wednesday, January 7, 2009.
6. How much do POWERBALL tickets cost?: POWERBALL tickets cost $2 per play. POWERBALL with Power Play tickets cost $3 per play. POWERBALL with Double Play tickets cost $3 per play. POWERBALL with Power Play and Double Play tickets cost $4 per play.
7. What is the largest POWERBALL jackpot to date?: The largest POWERBALL jackpot to date was a whopping $2.04 billion for the November 7, 2022, drawing in which one jackpot-winning ticket was sold in California.
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, 34.0066% is allocated to the jackpot pool.
9. What is Double Play?: Double Play is an add-on feature that gives players the chance to win up to $10 million in an additional drawing held following the POWERBALL drawing, using the same numbers played on their POWERBALL ticket. Double Play tickets cost an additional $1 per play.
10. What is Power Play?: Power Play is an add-on feature that allows players to multiply their winnings. With Power Play, players can win $2 million for matching the five white balls or multiply other non-jackpot prizes by 2X, 3X, 4X, or 5X. When the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less, a 10X multiplier will also be added. The multiplier number will be selected just before the draw. Power Play tickets cost an additional $1 per 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." The $2 million Power Play prize will be a one-time cash payment less applicable taxes.
11. Where can I view the POWERBALL drawings?: POWERBALL drawings can be viewed at www.powerball.com and on official Florida Lottery television carrier stations in major markets throughout Florida. These stations will air the drawings, either live or within minutes of the live drawings, or display the winning numbers on-screen following each drawing. Viewing times will vary by station. POWERBALL drawings may also be viewed online on the Florida Lottery's official YouTube channel.

POWERBALL winning numbers can also be found on this website, on the Lottery's free mobile app for iOS and Android users, at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer, and by calling (850) 921-PLAY (7529). You can also register to receive POWERBALL winning numbers and other Lottery information by email or text message.
12. Where can I view the POWERBALL with Double Play drawings?: POWERBALL with Double Play drawings can be viewed online at www.powerball.com and on the Florida Lottery's official YouTube channel. Double play winning numbers can also be found on this website, on the Lottery's free mobile app for iOS and Android users, at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer, and by calling (850) 921-PLAY (7529). You can also register to receive winning numbers and other Lottery information by email or text message.
13. How do you play POWERBALL?: POWERBALL tickets can be purchased at any authorized Florida Lottery retail location. Players can choose their numbers by filling out a paper playslip at the retail location, a digital playslip via the Florida Lottery mobile app, or by telling the retailer the numbers they wish to play. On the playslip, select five numbers from 1 to 69 in the upper play area and one Powerball number from 1 to 26 in the lower play area. Players also have the option of requesting Quick Pick for some or all of their numbers by marking the QP box in the upper and/or lower play areas of the playslip.

For two chances to win in two drawings, players can add Double Play for $1 more per play. Double Play will apply to all panels, including Quick Pick selections and Advance Play.

To claim $2 million when matching all five white balls, or to multiply non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x (or 10x if the jackpot is less than $150 million), players can add Power Play for $1 more per play. To add Power Play, 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 marked on the playslip.
14. Are the POWERBALL and Double Play prizes set payouts?: Yes, with the exception of the jackpot prize, all POWERBALL and Double Play prizes are set payouts.
15. Can I add Double Play and Power Play to my POWERBALL advance play POWERBALL tickets? If so, for how many draws?: Yes, you may advance play POWERBALL and add Double Play and/or Power Play for up to 39 consecutive draws. If you select Double Play or Power Play, it will apply to all drawings.
16. 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 48 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.
17. Will my POWERBALL playslip from another state work in Florida?: No, all POWERBALL states use different playslips that work exclusively on their gaming systems.
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 nationwide, each state can only sell POWERBALL within their state.
19. 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.
20. On the POWERBALL ticket, how is it possible to have the same number twice on one line?: It is possible to repeat a number because there are five POWERBALL numbers chosen between 1 through 69, and one Powerball number from 1 through 26. 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.
21. What are the odds of winning a POWERBALL or POWERBALL with Double Play prize?: The odds of winning a POWERBALL or POWERBALL with Double Play prize are 1 in 24.87.
22. What are the odds of winning the POWERBALL jackpot?: The odds of winning the POWERBALL jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338.
23. If the red Powerball number is drawn from a set of 26, why are the odds of matching only the Powerball number not 1 in 26?: 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.
24. How do you win POWERBALL?: In the official POWERBALL drawing conducted by MUSL, five white balls (numbered 1 through 69) and one Powerball (numbered 1 through 26) 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.

Prior to the POWERBALL drawing, a Power Play multiplier number is selected and displayed during the draw. Players who added Power Play to their purchase, will increase their winnings on the third through ninth prize levels by the multiplier number selected for that draw.
25. How do you win POWERBALL with Double Play?: POWERBALL with Double Play players who match all five winning numbers plus the Powerball number in the Double Play drawing, win the $10 million top prize. Those who match four, three, two, or one winning numbers win other great Double Play cash prizes ranging from $7 to $500,000. Power Play does not apply to Double Play prizes.
26. Are POWERBALL prizes shared?: POWERBALL jackpots are shared among all jackpot winners in all POWERBALL states. All other prize levels are set prizes.
27. 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. For a complete list of claiming options, visit our How To Claim page.
28. When do Florida POWERBALL tickets expire?: As with all terminal games offered by the Florida Lottery, Florida POWERBALL tickets expire 180 days from the winning drawing date.
29. 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, lump-sum payment (or Cash Option). Jackpot prizes must be claimed within the first 60 days after the winning drawing date to receive the Cash Option.
30. How long will it take to get my POWERBALL jackpot prize payment?: MUSL requires two weeks to receive wire transfers of funds from all 48 POWERBALL jurisdictions, so the earliest you may receive your POWERBALL jackpot prize is on the 15th day after the winning drawing date.
31. 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 percent of all unclaimed jackpot prizes are transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund to benefit education in the state.
32. 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.
33. 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.