US Powerball
4.0

US Powerball

The biggest and most popular Lottery in America with the largest jackpot ever won!
Pros
  • Offers larger jackpots
  • Opportunity to pick between lump sum or annuity for prizes
  • Has been in the industry for over 30 years
  • Online US Powerball is available in English and Spanish
Cons
  • Additional costs for Power Play feature
  • Subject to taxes
Next Draw:

Wednesday, Dec 04, 2024

Jackpot:

USD 240 Million
  • 13
  • : 50
  • : 35

Latest Powerball Results and Stats

The advantage of playing lotteries online is that you can play the most popular lotteries from around the world. One of the biggest lotteries that everyone seeks to play is the US Powerball. If you want to know how to buy US Powerball online then you may want to continue reading.

I’ve done some extensive research to give you a comprehensive guide on what the US Powerball odds are, how to purchase your tickets and what the game’s rules are. Furthermore, I’ve also given a short table on past winners and how much they’ve won so you can see what opportunities you have when playing the US Powerball!

US Powerball Highlights

  • Ticket price: $2 plus $1 for the Power Play option
  • Starting jackpot: $40 million
  • Record jackpot: $1.585 billion in 2016
  • Jackpot odds: 1 in 292.2 million
  • Any prize odds: 1 in 24.9
  • Who Can play US Powerball: Anyone living in 45 US States including Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands
  • US Powerball drawings: Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET

How to Play (and Buy) US Powerball Online

There are two ways you can play US Powerball: Online and offline. However, if you’re from another country the only way you can play US Powerball is through online platforms. In Some US states, players can buy US Powerball tickets directly from the brand’s website.

Another way you can purchase US Powerball tickets online is through various online vendors such as The Lotter or Lotto Agent. Ticket prices are $2 and an additional $1 if you want to choose the Power Play option.

When you purchase your ticket, you must pick your numbers from two drums. The first drum is for the white balls and the numbers are between 1 and 69. The second drum contains red balls which are called power balls and the numbers are between 1 and 26.

Pick five numbers from the white balls and one number from the red ball drum. Additionally, you can choose the quick pick option to allow the platform to automatically choose your numbers for you.

US Powerball Rules

For you to win the US Powerball Jackpot, the numbers you’ve chosen must match the numbers that are drawn which include the red Powerball. The grand prize must not be below $40 million.  If no one wins the jackpot, the prize money will then be added to the next draw.

The US Powerball also offers nine ways to win so you have a chance of winning a prize from other tiers. What’s more, non-US citizens can play the US Powerball and are eligible to win prizes. Non-US citizens must claim prizes the same way US citizens do, which is from a licensed lottery retailer or lottery office.

US Powerball Drawings

The US Powerball Drawing is held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET. So if you want to check if your numbers match you can watch the draw live on those days. If it’s too late for you to watch the draw live on a Monday or Wednesday you can purchase your tickets for Saturday’s draw instead.

All US Powerballs are live and held at Universal Studios in Orlando Florida.

US Powerball Prizes & Odds of Winning

Want to know what your odds are for winning the jackpot? In this table below I’ve given a breakdown of what your odds are for winning the grand prize as well as prizes from the other tiers.

Match Prize Odds of winning
5 Balls + Powerball $40 million+ 1 in 292,201,338
5 balls $1 Million 1 in 11,688,053.52
4 Balls + Powerball $50,000 1 in 913,129.18
4 Balls $100 1 in 36,525.17
3 Balls + Powerball $100 1 in 14,494.11
3 Balls $7 1 in 579.76
2 Balls + Powerball $7 1 in 701.33
1 Ball + Powerball $4 1 in 91.98
Powerball $4 1 in 38.32

US Powerball Payout

For smaller prizes of $600, you can claim your cash from a licensed lottery in the state you purchased your ticket in. You can claim prizes that are over $600 at some lottery offices but this will depend on the amount. To find out how to claim prizes that are over $600 in your state you should contact your local lottery.

On the other hand, Jackpot winners have two options when it comes to claiming the prize:

  • Lump-sum: This option allows you to claim your prize after the draw. You can expect two installments, one paid by the jurisdiction and the other one is from the combined lottery fund. The lump-sum option often results in higher taxes.
  • Annuity: With the annuity payout option will pay you your money in 30 yearly installments. Every payment will be 5% larger due to inflation.

There are pros and cons to both payout options when you win the jackpot. You have to decide which option will best suit your financial needs.

Biggest US Powerball Winners

The reason why US Powerball is so popular is that it has a history of winners who’ve won large jackpot prizes. Take a look at the table below to see the past winners of the US Powerball jackpot.

Winner Jackpot Amount State Date
3 Winners (Anonymous) $1.585 billion California, Florida, Tennessee Jan 13, 2016
1 winner (Anonymous) $768.4 million Wisconsin March 27, 2019
1 winner (Anonymous) $758.7 million Massachusetts Aug 23, 2017
1 winner (Anonymous) $731.1 million Maryland Jan 20, 2021
2 winners (Anonymous) $687.8 million Iowa and New York Oct 27, 2018

US Powerball FAQ

When is US Powerball draws held?

The US Powerball draws are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 pm ET at the Universal Studios in Orlando Florida.

Can the US Powerball lottery be played online from overseas?

Yes, players from overseas can play the US Powerball if they play through an online lottery vendor such as The Lotter or Lotto Agent. You can purchase your tickets online and pick your numbers just like you would on any online lottery platform.

After the US Powerball draw date, how long are the tickets valid for?

This will depend on the state you live in. Typically US Powerball tickets can expire between 90 days to a year after the draw date. That’s why it’s important to check your results regularly to see if you’re a lucky winner.

What are the payout options for the US Powerball jackpot?

You can either choose to be paid out a lump sum of money which will be paid in two installments. Or you can choose the annuity option where you get paid out 30 yearly installments.

Are US Powerball Winnings Subject to Taxes?

Yes, you will be subjected to taxes on your winnings. The tax percentage may vary depending on the state you live in. New York claims the highest taxes with their rate being 8.8%.

Final Thoughts – Should You Play US Powerball Online?

Although US Powerball is the most popular lottery around the world and the odds are quite low, it’s worth giving it a try. As you can see there are plenty of past winners that have won the biggest jackpots in the US Powerball.

What’s more, it’s easy to purchase and play US Powerball online. You can also choose between lump sum and annuity payouts and the ticket prices are quite cheap compared to other online lottery sites. So if you’ve got $2 to spare every week or even monthly you should try playing the US Powerball online. And if you spend an additional $1 on Power Play you can increase your chances of winning.