However, if you are not a U. S. citizen and you win a substantial jackpot, the IRS deducts a flat rate of 30% from your winnings. U. S. citizens are subject to a 25% initial deduction, plus state taxation. [2] X Research source Powerball tickets are not sold in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and Alabama. These states prohibit lotteries by law. Anyone over the age of 18 can play the game. If you’d like to play with the same numbers, you can purchase a multi-draw ticket (just ask the cashier) and pay to use the same numbers up to 26 times. [3] X Research source
The more drawings that occur without a jackpot winner, the higher the jackpot gets. Jackpots start at a minimum of $20 million and increase each time a drawing occurs without a jackpot winner. [5] X Research source Current drawing results are posted to the top of the USA Mega Millions and Powerball website. [6] X Research source Most places where Powerball tickets are sold will also post the most recent draws.
Georgia Illinois Kentucky Michigan New Hampshire North Carolina North Dakota Pennsylvania You must be a resident of that state or territory to purchase a Powerball ticket online.
Your first five white ball numbers don’t have to be in the same order as the balls that are drawn. Winning numbers win regardless of the order they’re listed in–for all prizes! However, the media typically reports numbers from smallest to largest to make it easier to read. However, the final Powerball number must match exactly, and none of the first five numbers can count in place of that final number. [8] X Research source Powerball may intentionally change the number of balls in play to tweak the odds. In the past, Powerball has reduced the white count from 69 to 59 and reduced the red count from 35 to 26. [9] X Research source Changing the number of balls decreased the odds of winning the jackpot, and this change likely created the $1. 5 billion jackpot.
The Power Play option is unavailable in California because state laws require that lottery prizes be paid on a pari-mutuel basis. [10] X Research source This means that lottery prizes can’t be set at absolute values, but must fluctuate based on the number of tickets sold and the amount of winning tickets.
Fill in the spaces for five numbers from 1-69 and one number from 1-26. Usually, Powerball tickets are divided into multiple sections called “boards” which have rows of multiple-choice style bubbles to fill in to choose your numbers. Each board essentially counts as one $2 ticket. In other words, for $2, you can fill out one board on the ticket and bet on a single set of numbers. Each subsequent board filled out costs $2 more but allows you to bet on an additional set of numbers. Indicate for each board whether you’d like the “Power Play” option. Each board (except in California) should have a space that allows you to buy a Power Play for your set of numbers. For random numbers, fill in the QP space instead of your numbers. “QP” stands for “Quick Pick” - this lets a computer randomly choose numbers for you. Choose how many drawings you want. Most tickets have a “Multidraw” section that allows you to pay for multiple drawings. For instance, if you want to bet on your numbers for two back-to-back drawings, fill in the “2” space. Each subsequent drawing costs as much as an additional ticket. If you make an error on any board, fill in the “VOID” space for that board. Don’t try to erase - instead, mark the board void and fill your numbers in on another board. When you’re finished, pay for your ticket. The clerk will calculate the price of your ticket based on how many boards and Power Plays you’ve selected. For example, if you play 5 draws on one board with a Power Play and 5 without, you would pay 5 × 3 + 5 × 2 = $25.
Matching only the red ball: $4 winnings Matching the red ball and one white ball: $4 Matching the red ball and two white balls: $7 Matching three white balls: $7 Matching the red ball and three white balls: $100 Matching four white balls: $100 Matching the red ball and four white balls: $50,000 Matching five white balls: $1,000,000 Matching the red ball and five white balls: Jackpot! Note: prizes differ in California because state law requires lottery prizes to be awarded on a pari-mutuel basis (where the payout depends on the pool of bets, instead of a fixed payout). [12] X Research source
Powerball tickets do expire. The time window you have to claim a prize differs from state to state - from 90 days to a full year. If you can’t make it to the vendor or lottery office for some reason (for instance, if you’ve left the state you bought the ticket in), it’s legal to mail your ticket to the state lottery office. Powerball provides a map that links you to state lottery pages, which will have more specific information about claiming prizes in your state. Powerball set a world record jackpot of $1. 586 billion on January 13, 2016, and that record still holds in 2021.
Note that Powerball winnings are subject to federal and/or state income taxes. Because of this, the annuity option will net you more money in the long term - not only will you receive interest on your winnings, but each year you’ll only have to pay taxes on about 1/30th of your total prize, meaning more of your prize will be taxed at a lower bracket. On the other hand, with a large lump sum payment, you can expect to pay up to about half of your winnings in taxes, depending on your state’s income tax rules.
Note that Powerball winnings are subject to federal and/or state income taxes. Because of this, the annuity option will net you more money in the long term - not only will you receive interest on your winnings, but each year you’ll only have to pay taxes on about 1/30th of your total prize, meaning more of your prize will be taxed at a lower bracket. On the other hand, with a large lump sum payment, you can expect to pay up to about half of your winnings in taxes, depending on your state’s income tax rules.
Note that Powerball winnings are subject to federal and/or state income taxes. Because of this, the annuity option will net you more money in the long term - not only will you receive interest on your winnings, but each year you’ll only have to pay taxes on about 1/30th of your total prize, meaning more of your prize will be taxed at a lower bracket. On the other hand, with a large lump sum payment, you can expect to pay up to about half of your winnings in taxes, depending on your state’s income tax rules.
Matching only the red ball: 1 in 38. 32 Matching the red ball and one white ball: 1 in 91. 98 Matching the red ball and two white balls: 1 in 701. 33 Matching three white balls: 1 in 579. 76 Matching the red ball and three white balls: 1 in 14,494. 11 Matching four white balls: 1 in 36,525. 17 Matching the red ball and four white balls: 1 in 913,129. 18 Matching five white balls: 1 in 11,688,053. 52 Matching the red ball and five white balls: 1 in 292,201,338. 00 Overall odds of winning any prize at all: 1 in 24. 87
