Powerball has been recharged!  Higher jackpots.  More often.

Powerball is a multi-state game that gives players nine ways to win cash prizes with the jackpot starting at $20 million. In addition to the jackpot, the game offers second-level prizes of $200,000, third-level prizes of $10,000 and better-than-ever payouts by using Power Play! The game is operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) in Des Moines, Iowa.

To play Powerball. . .

Select five different numbers from 1 to 59 and mark them on the playslip.

Then, choose the Powerball number from 1 to 39.

Options:

Quick Pick:  Use Quick Pick ("QP") to allow the computer to choose your numbers randomly.

Multiple Draws:  Play the same numbers for up to 15 consecutive drawings by selecting "MULTI DRAW."

Power Play:  If the player selects "POWER PLAY" and he or she matches 5 of 5 numbers and not the Powerball, the prize is an automatic $1 million, regardless of what the Power Play number is! Winnings up to $10,000 can be multiplied from two to five times the original prize to win up to $50,000. Power Play can be chosen on the regular Powerball playslip or through the terminal.
Each Powerball play is still $1. Adding Power Play costs an additional $1 per Powerball play.

To determine the Power Play amount, a wheel is spun during the regular Powerball drawing on Wednesday and Saturday. It includes these 16 spaces: 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5.

If you purchased the Power Play option and if any of your numbers match the winning numbers drawn, your prize amount (excluding the jackpot) will be multiplied by the Power Play number spun. The ticket must be a prize winner between $3 and $200,000, and it must be labeled "POWER PLAY — YES."

Give your playslip to the retailer to process your ticket. Check your ticket to confirm that the numbers and date are correct. Sign your ticket, and store it in a safe place. Remember to check the next Powerball drawing to see if you've won!

Game details

Cost

$1 for one play

Drawings

Wednesday and Saturday, 9:59 p.m. Central Time at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, by the Multi-State Lottery Association.

No Ticket Sales

Wednesday and Saturday, 8:59 p.m. to 10 p.m.

2-5 a.m. daily

Redeeming prizes

Powerball players must redeem their prizes in the same state they bought the tickets. Because there are 44 lotteries participating in Powerball, all tickets and playslips are identified by the lottery that sold the ticket so the prize can be claimed and paid properly. If your ticket is a winner and was purchased in Missouri, click here to find out how to claim your prize.

Lump sum payment (cash) or graduated jackpot payments (annuity)

Jackpot winners have 60 days after the winning draw date to choose cash or 30 graduated annuity payments (payments that increase each year). If you do not choose an option after 60 days, payment automatically defaults to the graduated annuity option. The cash option prize is approximately half of the advertised jackpot. If you choose the cash option, you get the cash the Lottery would have invested over the 30-year annuity period to pay the advertised prize amount.

Match 5 Bonus Prize feature

The Match 5 Bonus Prize is activated only after a previous record jackpot is exceeded. At each record, the jackpot will be increased in increments of $25 million, and sales above this amount will be added to the Match 5 Bonus Prize Fund until the jackpot is won. When that happens, the Bonus Prize Fund will be divided equally among the winners who match all five white-ball numbers (the second-level prize) and will be paid in cash. This prize money is paid in addition to the fixed prize of $200,000 or $1 million for using Power Play. The Match 5 Bonus Prize feature is automatic and doesn't require any additional purchases.

Understanding your chances of winning

No matter how many people play Powerball, the chances of winning never change. The chances of winning are based on the amount of number combinations, not the number of players. Here's how your chances of winning the Powerball jackpot are determined.

Discover the seven Ways to Get Winning Numbers to see if you're a winner. Plus, find out how to claim your Powerball prize When You Win.