Dreaming of the day you win a prize with Powerball? The odds of winning the grand prize are one in 292,201,338, but that doesn’t keep lotto lovers from trying their luck. Just don’t forget: there are smaller prizes, too. You can even win if you just matched one number on Powerball. Read on to learn more!
One of the most popular questions we hear about Powerball is this: Do you win anything with just the Powerball number? Or, what happens if you match two white balls? Three numbers? There are nine different ways to win a prize playing Powerball. Let’s look at the tiers and imagine the possibilities.
Understanding Powerball Prizes
Here is the prize structure to get a better understanding of how Powerball works.
Grand Prize: Match all five numbers and the red Powerball number to win the biggest Powerball Jackpots.
Match 5: Match all five white numbers to win $1 million
Match 4 + Powerball: Match four numbers and the Powerball to win $50,000
Match 4: Match four numbers to win $100
Match 3 + Powerball: Match three numbers and the Powerball to win $100
Match 3: Match three numbers to win $7
Match 2 + Powerball: Match two numbers and the Powerball to win $7
Match 2: No prize for matching two white numbers
Match 1 + Powerball: Match one number and the Powerball to win $4
Match 1: No prize for matching one white number
Match Powerball: Match the red Powerball to win $4
So, do you win anything with just the Powerball number? Yep! You'll win a $4 prize which covers the cost of a Powerball ticket plus a little extra to boot. The odds of this happening are 1 in 38.
Understanding Powerball Number Combinations
You can win a prize with as little as a single number so long as that number is the red Powerball. Let’s take a look at what happens when you start matching more numbers.
Matching One Number for Powerball
You win a prize with a Powerball one-number match if the number matches the number drawn for the red Powerball. The prize for matching just the Powerball number is $4. This prize can be increased if you add the optional Power Play to your ticket.
Matching Two Numbers For Powerball
You can potentially win a small prize of $4 with just one white number plus the Powerball number for a two-number combination. Matching two numbers plus the Powerball wins you the same prize as matching three numbers ($7). So make sure to check your ticket when you play Powerball and match two numbers to see if the Powerball number matches, too.
Matching Three Numbers for Powerball
Matching three numbers on your Powerball ticket is where the prizes start to add up. The prizes start to increase in value with the more numbers you match. If you happen to match three numbers plus the Powerball number, the prize jumps from $7 to $100.
The odds of matching three numbers on the Powerball are 1 in 580. The odds of getting three numbers and the Powerball? 1 in 14,494.
It’s here where the prizes really start to increase. Match four numbers plus the Powerball number for a $50,000 prize! Match five numbers? You just became a millionaire!
Exploring Other Ways to Win Playing Powerball
Enter the Power Play.
For an additional $1, you can add Power Play to your Powerball ticket which will multiply any non-jackpot amount won if you do win. This amount can be anywhere from 2x to 5x to even 10x the prize won. So you matched the Powerball for the $4 prize, and you’ve also added the Power Play to your ticket. Your $4 prize turns into a minimum of $8 won. If the 10x multiplier is available, that $4 prize could turn into $40.
When the 10X is offered (for jackpots $150 million or less), the prize for matching five white balls goes from $1 million to $2 million. These higher prize levels are not eligible for the Power Play. But still, you’re now a millionaire!
Frequently Asked Questions About Powerball
Must I be a U.S. citizen or resident to play?
You do not need to be a citizen or resident of the United States to play. You can play so long as you are physically within a participating state and of the age required to play in that jurisdiction at the time of ordering your ticket. Federal and state income taxes may apply to any claimed prize money. See our list of states for Powerball jackpot winners to see where your state ranks on the list.
What happens if I win a large Powerball prize since I ordered my ticket on Jackpocket?
Not to worry! When you order your ticket on Jackpocket, we send a scan of your ticket to the app and securely store your physical ticket in a locked vault. If you win big, we arrange to securely transfer the physical ticket to you so you can claim your prize with the state lottery. There are no fees related to winning a prize on Jackpocket. Your winnings are 100% yours to keep!
Will Jackpocket tell me if I win?
Once the Powerball results are in, we'll check to see if any of your tickets matched the winning numbers and any prize level. If you win, we will automatically send an email letting you know.
If your prize is below the threshold in your state, we will credit your Jackpocket account with the amount won. Use your winnings to order future tickets or transfer the winnings to your linked account. There are no fees from Jackpocket to transfer your winnings to yourself.
Do the numbers have to match in the exact order drawn?
No. All Powerball lottery tickets for a given play print the white ball numbers in numerical order from lowest to highest, with the Powerball number at the end. During the Powerball drawing, the five white balls are drawn first. Their order doesn't matter, just the number itself.
The sixth number, however, is the red Powerball. The red Powerball drawn must match the Powerball number on your ticket.
Do Powerball tickets expire?
Yes, Powerball prizes can expire if not claimed within a specific time frame. Of course, this varies by state, so it’s important to check the rules applicable to your state when you play Powerball and determine the deadline to claim any winnings. Ticket expiration dates can be anywhere from 90 days to 1 year.
Should I toss my ticket if I don’t get all six Powerball numbers?
If you're a Jackpocket user, we'll let you know automatically if you win at ANY prize level. For everyone else, hold on to that ticket! Carefully check to see if you have any matches according to the prize chart. Sometimes, you do end up getting one match, but do you win anything with one number? It’s possible that you can! So, don’t let it go…yet.
Did you order your ticket using Jackpocket? You may still win a prize even if you didn’t win the lottery. All non-winning tickets can be entered into the Jackpocket Sweepstakes to win other prizes such as cash, event tickets or even vacations.
Does playing online vs. in store impact my odds of winning?
This is a question many people ask as they certainly don’t want their odds of winning to go down. The answer is a resounding no! Ordering tickets online vs. in store has no impact on the odds of winning. Though it’s a bit more convenient, don’t you think?
How does Powerball compare to Mega Millions?
Powerball is similar to Mega Millions in that it is a draw game where you must match five white balls plus the supplemental ball to win the jackpot. The odds of winning the grand prize are better with Powerball (1:292 million) vs. Mega Millions (1:302 million), with jackpots that can climb just as high or higher than Mega Millions.
Ready to try your Powerball luck? Take a chance right from your phone with Jackpocket. Order online or get the app!
