If you are planning to participate in the Powerball lottery, there are some important details you should know before playing. Recently, a lucky lottery player in California won the incredible $1.08 billion jackpot. The initial jackpot starts at $20 million and increases with each drawing if no one wins it. In fact, it took nearly 40 drawings for the jackpot to reach the billion-dollar mark.
“What time does the Powerball drawing take place?”
The Powerball drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Monday drawings were introduced in 2021 to provide more opportunities for players to win.
“When is the deadline to purchase Powerball tickets?”
The deadline for buying Powerball tickets varies by state, so it is advisable not to wait until the last minute. The cutoff time for ticket purchases can be one hour or more before the actual drawing. Some third-party lottery apps may have an earlier deadline, possibly over two hours prior to the drawing. For instance, in New Jersey, Jackpocket has a deadline of 8:45 p.m. for the 10:59 p.m. drawing. Here is a breakdown of the ticket purchase deadlines for each state (local times apply):
- Arizona: 6:59 p.m.
- Arkansas: 8:59 p.m.
- California: 7 p.m.
- Colorado: 7:30 p.m.
- Connecticut: 10 p.m.
- Delaware: 9:45 p.m.
- District of Columbia: 9:45 p.m.
- Florida: 10 p.m.
- Georgia: 10 p.m.
- Idaho: 7:54 p.m.
- Illinois: 9 p.m.
- Indiana: 9:58 p.m.
- Iowa: 8:59 p.m.
- Kansas: 8:59 p.m.
- Kentucky: 10 p.m.
- Louisiana: 9 p.m.
- Maine: 9:50 p.m.
- Maryland: 9:59 p.m.
- Massachusetts: 9:50 p.m.
- Michigan: 9:45 p.m.
- Minnesota: 9:00 p.m.
- Mississippi: 8:54 p.m.
- Missouri: 8:59 p.m.
- Montana: 8:00 p.m.
- Nebraska: 9:00 p.m.
- New Hampshire: 9:50 p.m.
- New Jersey: 9:59 p.m.
- New Mexico: 8 p.m.
- New York: 10 p.m.
- North Carolina: 9:59 p.m.
- North Dakota: 8:58 p.m.
- Ohio: 10 p.m.
- Oklahoma: 8:59 p.m.
- Oregon: 7 p.m.
- Pennsylvania: 9:59 p.m.
- Puerto Rico: 10:59 p.m.
- Rhode Island: 9:50 p.m.
- South Carolina: 9:59 p.m.
- South Dakota: 9 p.m.
- Tennessee: 9 p.m.
- Texas: 9 p.m.
- US Virgin Islands: 10 p.m.
- Vermont: 9:50 p.m.
- Virginia: 10 p.m.
- Washington: 6:45 p.m.
- West Virginia: 9:59 p.m.
- Wisconsin: 9 p.m.
- Wyoming: 7:59 p.m.
“How can I watch the Powerball drawing live?”
You can watch the Powerball drawing live on the official lottery website at 10:59 p.m. ET every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Simply click here to view the live drawing. Additionally, some local television stations broadcast the drawing in their respective markets. For example, ABC in New York airs the drawing live.
“How do I play Powerball?”
To participate in Powerball, each ticket costs $2. You have the option to add the Power Play for an additional $1, which can potentially increase your prize amount up to five times the original prize (excluding the jackpot and Match 5). When the jackpot is less than $150 million, there is also a possibility of a 10x Power Play. To play, select five numbers ranging from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. Alternatively, you can have a quick pick ticket generated by the lottery machine with random numbers for you. Prizes vary from $4 for matching the Powerball number to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California), and of course, the jackpot for matching all six numbers. You can find all the prize payout details on the Powerball website.
“What should I do if I win the Powerball?”
If you are fortunate enough to win the Powerball jackpot, it is essential to celebrate! However, it is strongly recommended to seek legal and financial advice from a trusted lawyer. Drew Svitko, Powerball Product Group Chair and Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director, advises winners to sign their tickets, keep them in a secure place, and reach out to their local lottery for guidance on claiming their prize.
“What are my odds of winning?”
Playing the Powerball can be thrilling, but remember not to start spending those millions in advance. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 292,201,338 to 1. The chances of matching all five white balls are about 11,688,053 to 1.
“Top 10 largest Powerball jackpots”
Here is a list of the ten largest jackpots in Powerball history since its establishment in 1992:
- $2.04 billion, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
- $1.586 billion, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
- $1.08 billion, July 19, 2023: Won in California
- $768.4 million, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
- $758.7 million, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
- $754.6 million, Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
- $730 million, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
- $699.8 million, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
- $687.8 million, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
- $632.6 million, Jan. 5, 2022: Two winners in California, Wisconsin
“All-time biggest U.S. lottery jackpots”
Below are the largest jackpots ever won in the United States, comprising both Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries:
- $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
- $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
- $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
- $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
- $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
- $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
- $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
- $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
- $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
- $754.6 million, Powerball, Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
- $730 million, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
- $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
- $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York
- $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland
- $648 million, Mega Millions, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia
- $720 million, Mega Millions, July 21, 2023:
- $632.6 million, Powerball, Jan. 5, 2022: Two winners in California, Wisconsin
- $590.5 million, Powerball, May 18, 2013: Won in Florida
- $587.5 million, Powerball, Nov. 28, 2012: Two winners in Arizona, Missouri
- $564.1 million, Powerball, Feb. 11, 2015: Three winners in North Carolina, Puerto Rico
