Powerball

This article is about the U.S. lottery game. For the Australian lottery game, see Powerball (Australia). For other uses, see Powerball (disambiguation).
Powerball logo

Powerball is an American lottery game offered by 44 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a nonprofit organization formed by an agreement with U.S. lotteries. Powerball's minimum advertised jackpot is $40 million (annuity); Powerball's annuity is paid in 30 graduated installments; winners may choose cash instead.

Drawings are held Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Since October 7, 2015, the game has used a 5/69 (white balls) + 1/26 (Powerballs) matrix from which winning numbers are chosen, resulting in odds of 1 in 292,201,338 of winning a jackpot per play.[1] Each play costs $2, or $3 with the Power Play option. (Originally, Powerball plays cost $1; when PowerPlay began, such games were $2.) The official cutoff for ticket sales is 10 p.m. Eastern Time; some lotteries cut off sales earlier.[2] The drawings are usually held at the Florida Lottery’s studio in Tallahassee.

On January 13, 2016, Powerball produced the largest lottery jackpot in history; the $1.586 billion jackpot was split by three tickets: in Chino Hills, California,[3][4] in Munford, Tennessee, and in Melbourne Beach, Florida.[5]

Powerball members

U.S. lotteries. As of 2016, all states with lotteries (in blue) plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands offer Powerball.

Powerball replaced Lotto*America in April 1992; Mega Millions replaced The Big Game 10 years later. (See below for the evolution of the name Mega Millions).

Mega Millions and Powerball

Lottery Powerball Mega Millions
Arizona April 4, 1994 April 18, 2010
Arkansas October 31, 2009 January 31, 2010
California April 8, 2013 June 22, 2005
Connecticut November 28, 1995 January 31, 2010
Colorado August 2, 2001 May 16, 2010
Delaware January 14, 1991 January 31, 2010
District of Columbia February 13, 1988 January 31, 2010
Florida January 4, 2009 May 15, 2013
Georgia January 31, 2010 September 6, 1996
Idaho February 1, 1990 January 31, 2010
Illinois January 31, 2010 September 6, 1996
Indiana October 14, 1990 January 31, 2010
Iowa February 13, 1988 January 31, 2010
Kansas February 13, 1988 January 31, 2010
Kentucky January 10, 1991 January 31, 2010
Louisiana March 5, 1995 November 16, 2011
Maine July 30, 2004 May 9, 2010
Maryland January 31, 2010 September 6, 1996
Massachusetts January 31, 2010 September 6, 1996
Michigan January 31, 2010 September 6, 1996
Minnesota August 14, 1990 January 31, 2010
Missouri February 13, 1988 January 31, 2010
Montana November 9, 1989 March 1, 2010
Nebraska July 21, 1994 March 20, 2010
New Hampshire November 5, 1995 January 31, 2010
New Jersey January 31, 2010 May 1999
New Mexico October 20, 1996 January 31, 2010
New York January 31, 2010 May 17, 2002
North Carolina May 30, 2006 January 31, 2010
North Dakota March 25, 2004 January 31, 2010
Ohio April 16, 2010 May 17, 2002
Oklahoma January 12, 2006 January 31, 2010
Oregon February 13, 1988 March 28, 2010
Pennsylvania June 29, 2002 January 31, 2010
Puerto Rico September 28, 2014 Not offered
Rhode Island February 13, 1988 January 31, 2010
South Carolina October 6, 2002 January 31, 2010
South Dakota November 15, 1990 May 16, 2010
Tennessee April 21, 2004 January 31, 2010
Texas January 31, 2010 December 5, 2003
US Virgin Islands November 14, 2010 2002
Vermont July 1, 2003 January 31, 2010
Virginia January 31, 2010 September 6, 1996
Washington January 31, 2010 June 2002
West Virginia February 13, 1988 January 31, 2010
Wisconsin August 10, 1989 January 31, 2010
Wyoming August 24, 2014 (both games)

Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada and Utah do not sell lottery tickets. In 2013, Wyoming became the 44th state to establish a lottery; the next year, it began, initially offering both Mega Millions and Powerball.

Background and history

1988 precursor: Lotto*America

Powerball's predecessor began in 1988;[6] the multi-state game was known as Lotto*America. The game, and name, were changed to Powerball on April 19, 1992; its first drawing was held April 22.

Powerball begins

When it was launched in 1992 Powerball became the first game to use two drums. Using two drums to draw numbers from offers more manipulation by simultaneously allowing high jackpot odds, numerous prize levels and low overall odds of winning (as explained later, a ticket can win by matching only one number). The two-drum concept was suggested by Steve Caputo of the Oregon Lottery. The two-drum concept has since been used by The Big Game (now Mega Millions) in the U.S., Australia's Powerball, Thunderball in the United Kingdom, Eurojackpot and EuroMillions (unlike most two-drum games, Euromillions selects two numbers called "Lucky Stars" from the second drum; jackpot winners must make a total of seven matches).

Through 2008, Powerball drawings usually were held at Screenscape Studios in West Des Moines, Iowa. The drawings' host was longtime Iowa radio personality Mike Pace, who had hosted MUSL drawings since Lotto*America began in 1988. In 1996, Powerball went "on the road" for the first time, holding five remote drawings at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Ironically, weeks later, Georgia became the only jurisdiction to leave Powerball (Maine, which joined MUSL in 1990, left when Powerball began). In August 1996, Georgia joined the then-new The Big Game, then the other major U.S. lottery group. It planned to sell tickets for both games for the rest of 1996; however, within days, Georgia was forcibly removed from MUSL, not to return until the 2010 cross-sell expansion.

On November 2, 1997, the annuity was changed from 20 to 25 yearly payments; the cash option was added.[7] Currently, the annuity consists of 30 graduated payments, increasing 5% annually.

In 1998, Florida was given permission by its government to participate in a multi-state game. It was set to offer Powerball; however, in early 1999, the new governor, Jeb Bush, prevented Florida from joining since he believed Powerball would hurt the existing Florida Lottery games. In 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist finally allowed Florida to join MUSL, on January 4, 2009.

On March 7, 2001, an optional multiplier (called Power Play) was added, allowing players to multiply non-jackpot winnings by up to 5 by paying an extra $1 per game. A wheel was introduced to select the Power Play multiplier for each drawing (the next year, the 1x was removed from the Power Play wheel.)

2009: Florida became host to drawings

With the start of Powerball sales in Florida on January 4, 2009 (with its first drawing on January 7), the matrices changed to 5/59 + 1/39 (adding four white ball numbers and dropping three red balls). This changed the jackpot probability from 1:146 million to 1:195 million; the overall probability became 1:35.

Based on statistical projections, the average jackpot win increased from $95 million to $141 million. Over 3.5 million additional prizes were expected to be won yearly due to the change in overall probability. The starting jackpot increased to $20 million, with minimum rollovers of $5 million. The jackpot contribution increased from 30.3% to 32.5% of total sales. The Power Play option was modified; second prize, usually $200,000, was given an automatic 5x multiplier, making the 5+0 prize $1 million cash. The bonus second prize if the jackpot exceeded its previous record by $25 million, triggered only twice, was eliminated with the 2012 format change.

The conditions for Florida joining Powerball included a move of the live drawings from Iowa to Universal Studios in Orlando. The three hosts rotating announcing duties from Universal Studios were Tracy Wiu, Elizabeth Hart and Scott Adams (MUSL headquarters remained in Iowa, where its other draws are held). The wheel that was used to determine the Power Play multiplier was retired when the drawings moved to Florida; a random number generator (RNG) was used until the 2012 format change.

Arkansas became the 33rd MUSL member on October 31, 2009,[8] the last to join before the 2010 cross-sell expansion. The Ohio Lottery added Powerball on April 16, 2010; it joined Mega Millions (along with New York) eight years earlier, when The Big Game added Mega Millions to its name.

2010 cross-sell expansion

In March 2009, it was reported that New Jersey, already a Mega Millions member, sought permission to join Powerball. Shortly after, discussions were revealed about allowing each U.S. lottery to offer both games. On October 13, the Mega Millions consortium and MUSL reached an agreement in principle to cross-sell Mega Millions and Powerball.[9] In November, MUSL signed an agreement to start streaming Powerball drawings online.[10][11]

On January 31, 2010, the date of the cross-sell expansion, Mega Millions and MUSL each added lotteries; eight Powerball members added Mega Millions by May. The Montana Lottery joined Mega Millions on March 1. Nebraska added Mega Millions on March 20; Oregon followed on March 28; Arizona joined Mega Millions on April 18; Maine added Mega Millions on May 9; Colorado and South Dakota joined Mega Millions on May 16. The U.S. Virgin Islands joined Mega Millions in October 2010.

Before the agreement, the only places that sold both Mega Millions and Powerball tickets were retailers straddling a border; one retailer on the Sharon, Pennsylvania/Masury, Ohio border sold both Mega Millions (via the Ohio Lottery) and Powerball (Pennsylvania) before the agreement and continued to be the only retailer to sell tickets for both lotteries.[12]

As a result of Illinois joining Powerball on the expansion date, it became the second multi-jurisdictional lottery game (after Mega Millions, which Illinois already participated in) whose drawings were carried nationally. Both games' drawings were simulcast via Chicago cable superstation WGN-TV through its national WGN America feed. WGN-TV aired Illinois Lottery drawings nationally from 1992 to 2015 after acquiring broadcast rights from Chicago's Fox owned-and-operated station WFLD in 1988, which took the rights from WGN-TV in 1987. Powerball drawings were aired on WGN-TV and WGN America on Wednesdays and Saturdays immediately following the station's 9 p.m. (Central Time) newscast with the Mega Millions drawings being aired Tuesday and Friday evenings after said newscast. WGN served as a default carrier of Mega Millions or Powerball where no local television station carries either multi-jurisdictional lottery's drawings.

On March 13, 2010, New Jersey became the first previous Mega Millions-only member (just before the cross-selling expansion) to produce a jackpot-winning Powerball ticket. It was worth over $211 million annuity; it was sold in Morris Plains. On May 28, 2010, North Carolina became the first previous MUSL member (just before the cross-selling expansion) to produce a jackpot-winning Mega Millions ticket; that jackpot was $12 million (annuity).

On June 2, 2010, Ohio won a Powerball jackpot; it became the first lottery selling either Mega Millions or Powerball (when 2010 began) to provide a jackpot-winning ticket for its newer game. The ticket was worth $261 million annuity; it was sold in Sunbury. Ohio's second Powerball jackpot-winning ticket, sold for the June 23, 2010 drawing, was part of another first; since Montana also provided a jackpot winner for that drawing, it was the first time a jackpot was shared through lotteries which sold competing games before the cross-selling expansion, as Montana sold only Powerball before the expansion date.

2012 format change

On January 15, 2012, the price of each basic Powerball play doubled to $2, while PowerPlay games became $3; the minimum jackpot doubled to $40 million.[13] A non-jackpot play matching the five white balls won $1 million. The red balls decreased from 39 to 35.[14] The drawings were moved from Universal Studios Orlando to the Florida Lottery’s studios in Tallahassee. Sam Arlen served as host, with Alexa Fuentes substituting.

These changes were made to increase the frequency of nine-figure jackpots; a Powerball spokesperson believed a $500 million jackpot was feasible (it became a reality within the year,[15]), and that the first $1 billion jackpot in U.S. history would occur by 2022[16] (ironically, less than three months after the Powerball changes, Mega Millions' jackpot reached $656,000,000 despite remaining a $1-per-play game).[17] The random Power Play multiplier was retired for a set, fixed dollar amount payout.[18] The $25 million rollover "cap" (creating larger 5+0 prizes) was eliminated.

California joined on April 8, 2013; it has never offered the Power Play option, as all payouts in California Lottery drawing games, by law, are parimutuel. Mega Millions, which became available in California in 2005, offers its Megaplier in its other 45 jurisdictions.

On January 22, 2014, the variable Power Play option returned (2x-5x) for multiplying non-jackpot prizes.[18]

In October 2014, Puerto Rico joined Powerball; the first mainly Spanish-speaking jurisdiction offering the game; as of 2016, it still has not joined Mega Millions.

2015 format change

On October 4, 2015, the Powerball format changed again; the white-ball pool increased from 59 to 69 while the Powerball pool decreased from 35 to 26. While this improved the chance of winning any prize to 1 in 24, it also lengthened the jackpot odds to 1 in 292,201,338.[19] The 4+1 prize became $50,000; the 10x PowerPlay became available in drawings with a jackpot of under $150 million.[20] Three months later, the format produced a $1.5 billion jackpot, double the previous record, after 20 consecutive rollovers.[19][21]

Playing the game

Basic game

The minimum Powerball bet is $2. In each game, players select five numbers from a set of 69 white balls and one number from 26 red Powerballs; the red ball number can be the same as one of the white balls. Players can select their own numbers or have the terminal randomly select the numbers (called "quick pick", "easy pick", etc.). In each drawing, winning numbers are selected using two ball machines, one containing the white balls and the other containing the red Powerballs. Five white balls are drawn from the first machine and the red ball from the second machine. Games matching at least three white balls or the red Powerball win.

The drawing order of the five white balls is irrelevant; all tickets show the white ball numbers in ascending order. Players cannot use the drawn Powerball to match one of their white numbers, or vice versa.

Two identical machines are used for each drawing, randomly selected from four sets. The model of machine used is the Halogen, manufactured by Smartplay International of Edgewater Park, New Jersey. There are eight ball sets (four of each color); one set of each color is randomly selected before a drawing. The balls are mixed by a turntable at the bottom of the machine that propels the balls around the chamber. When the machine selects a ball, the turntable slows to catch it, sends it up the shaft, and then down the rail to the display.

The double matrixes and probabilities in the game's history:

Starting date Pick 5 of Pick 1 of Jackpot chance Power Play multipliers
April 22, 1992 45 45 1:54,979,154 none†
November 5, 1997 49 42 1:80,089,127 none†
March 7, 2001 49 42 1:80,089,127 1×-5×
October 9, 2002 53 42 1:120,526,769 2×-5×
August 28, 2005 55 42 1:146,107,961 2×-5×
January 7, 2009 59 39 1:195,249,054 2×-5×
January 15, 2012 59 35 1:175,223,510 none
January 19, 2014 59 35 1:175,223,510 2×-5×
October 7, 2015[22] 69 26 1:292,201,338 2×-5×; 10ׇ

†Power Play was introduced in 2001.
‡10× available if jackpot is under $150 million.[20]

While Mega Millions and Powerball each have similar jackpot odds despite having a different double matrix (Mega Millions is 5/75 + 1/15), since Powerball is $2 per play, it now takes $584,402,676 (not counting Power Play side bets) on average to produce a jackpot-winning ticket.

Power Play

For an additional $1 per game, a player may activate the Power Play option. Activating it multiplies lower-tier winnings (base prize $50,000 or less) by up to 5, or 10 when the jackpot is under $150 million. Power Play is drawn separate from the six numbers. The 5+0 prize is automatically doubled to $2 million if Power Play is activated.

The dilemma for players is whether to maximize the chance at the jackpot or increase lower-tier winnings.

Power Play, when it began in 2001, was drawn with a special wheel. In 2006 and 2007, MUSL replaced one of the 5× spaces on the Power Play wheel with a 10×. During each month-long promotion, MUSL guaranteed that there would be at least one drawing with a 10× multiplier. The promotion returned in 2008; the ball landed in the 10× space twice. After being absent in 2009, the 10× multiplier returned in May 2010 (after the Power Play drawing was changed to RNG.) The promotion was extended for the only time, as the 10× multiplier was not drawn until June 12. The second prize 5× guarantee continued; the 10× applied to all non-jackpot prizes, as in previous promotions.

Power Play′s success has led to similar multipliers in other games, most notably Megaplier, available through all Mega Millions members except California. The 2012 Powerball changes resulted in all eight lower-tier levels having "fixed" Power Play prizes.[23]

On January 19, 2014, PowerPlay was modified; it used 30 balls with the following distribution:

On October 4, 2015, PowerPlay changed again, using 42 or 43† balls as follows:

† 10x available when jackpot is under $150 million.

Prizes and odds

Payouts as of October 7, 2015:[24]

Matches Prize[lower-alpha 1] Power Play 2x (1 in 1.75) Power Play 3x (1 in 3.23) Power Play 4x (1 in 14) Power Play 5x (1 in 21) Odds of winning
PB only (0+1) $4 $8 $12 $16 $20 1 in 38.32§
1 number plus PB (1+1) $4 $8 $12 $16 $20 1 in 91.98
2+1 $7 $14 $21 $28 $35 1 in 701.33
3+0 $7 $14 $21 $28 $35 1 in 579.76
3+1 $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 1 in 14,494.11
4+0 $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 1 in 36,525.17
4+1 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 1 in 913,129.18
5+0 $1,000,000 $2,000,000[lower-alpha 2] 1 in 11,688,053.52
5+1 Jackpot[lower-alpha 3] 1 in 292,201,338

Overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.87.

Former prizes/odds (January 19, 2014 – October 3, 2015):

Matches Prize[lower-alpha 1] Power Play 2x (1 in 2) Power Play 3x (1 in 3 1/3) Power Play 4x (1 in 10) Power Play 5x (1 in 10) Odds of winning[25]
PB only $4 $8 $12 $16 $20 1 in 55.41
1 number plus PB $4 $8 $12 $16 $20 1 in 110.81
2 numbers plus PB $7 $14 $21 $28 $35 1 in 706.43
3 numbers; no PB $7 $14 $21 $28 $35 1 in 360.14
3 numbers plus PB $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 1 in 12,244.83
4 numbers; no PB $100 $200 $300 $400 $500 1 in 19,087.53
4 numbers plus PB $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 1 in 648,975.96
5 numbers; no PB $1,000,000 $2,000,000[lower-alpha 2] 1 in 5,153,632.65
5 numbers plus PB Jackpot[lower-alpha 3] 1 in 175,223,510.00

Overall odds of winning were 1 in 31.85.

  1. 1 2 California's prize amounts are always parimutuel because its state penal code distinguishes between a "lottery" which cannot be broken and a "banked game" whose bank theoretically could be broken. Only a "lottery" was authorized by the state Lottery Act. Therefore, Power Play is not offered in California.
  2. 1 2 $2,000,000 fixed for match 5+0 with Power Play as of 2012 format change.
  3. 1 2 Power Play multipliers do not apply to jackpot. Jackpot is split among multiple winners.

§Odds of winning 0+1 prize are 1:38.32 instead of 1:26 as there is the possibility of also matching at least one white ball.[26]

All non-jackpot prizes are fixed amounts (except in California); they may be reduced and paid on a parimutuel basis, with each member paying differing amounts for the same prize tier, if the liability exceeds the funds in the prize pool for any game member.[27]

Jackpot accumulation and payment options

Jackpot winners have the option of receiving their prize in cash (in two installments; one from the winning jurisdiction, then the combined funds from the other members) or as a graduated annuity paid in 30 yearly installments. Each annuity payment is 5% higher than in the previous year to adjust for inflation.[28]

The advertised estimated jackpot represents the total payments that would be paid to jackpot winner(s) should they accept the annuity option. This estimate is based on the funds accumulated in the jackpot pool rolled over from prior drawings, expected sales for the next drawing, and market interest rates for the securities that would be used to fund the annuity.[2] The estimated jackpot usually is 32.5% of the (non-Power Play) revenue of each base ($1) play, submitted by game members to accumulate into a prize pool to fund the jackpot. If the jackpot is not won in a particular drawing, the prize pool carries over to the next drawing, accumulating until there is a jackpot winner. This prize pool is the cash that is paid to a jackpot winner if they choose cash. If the winner chooses the annuity, current market rates are used to calculate the graduated payment schedule and the initial installment is paid. The remaining funds in the prize pool are invested to generate the income required to fund the remaining installments. If there are multiple jackpot winners for a drawing, the jackpot prize pool is divided equally for all such plays.

MUSL and its members accept all investment risk and are contractually obligated and liable to the winner to make all scheduled payments to annuity winners. If a jackpot ticket is not claimed, the funds in the prize pool are returned to members in proportion to the amount they contributed to the prize pool. The members have different rules regulating how unclaimed funds are used.[2]

When the Powerball jackpot is won, the next jackpot is guaranteed to be $40 million (annuity). If a jackpot is not won, the minimum rollover is $10 million. The cash in the jackpot pool is guaranteed to be the current value of the annuity. If revenue from ticket sales falls below expectations, game members must contribute additional funds to the jackpot pool to cover the shortage; the most likely scenario where this can occur is if the jackpot is won in consecutive drawings.

Claiming prizes

Winning tickets must be claimed in the jurisdiction where it was bought, regardless of residence. The minimum age to play Powerball is 18, except in Nebraska (19); and Arizona, Iowa or Louisiana (21).

Generally, Powerball players do not have to choose cash or annuity unless they win a jackpot (then they usually have 60 days to choose.) Exceptions include Florida and Missouri; the 60-day "clock" starts with the drawing, so a jackpot winner who wishes to take the cash option needs to make immediate plans to claim their prize. New Jersey and Texas require the cash/annuity choice to be made when playing; in New Jersey, an annuity ticket can be changed to cash after winning, while in Texas, the choice is binding (when the cash option was introduced in 1997, all Powerball players had to make the choice when playing. This regulation was phased out by 1999.) All Powerball prizes must be claimed within a period ranging from 90 days to 1 year, depending on where the ticket was bought.

Powerball winnings in California, Delaware, Pennsylvania and South Dakota are subject to Federal income tax only. There is no state income tax in Florida, South Dakota, Texas or Washington, and only on interest and dividends in Tennessee and New Hampshire. Winnings from tickets purchased elsewhere may be subject to its income tax laws (with possible credit for taxes based on the two jurisdictions.)

Secondary prizes

Unlike the jackpot pool, other prizes are the responsibility and liability of each participating lottery. All revenue for Powerball ticket sales not used for jackpots is retained by each member; none of this revenue is shared with other lotteries. Members are liable only for the payment of secondary prizes sold there.

Since the secondary prizes are defined in fixed amounts (except in California), if the liability for a given prize level exceed the funds in the prize pool for that level the amount of the prize may be reduced and the prize pool be distributed on a parimutuel basis and result in a prize lower than the fixed amounts given in the prize tables.[29] Because the secondary prize pools are calculated independently, it is possible lower-tier prizes will differ among the game members.

Major wins

Because the quoted jackpot amount is an annuity of 30 graduated annual payments, its cash value relative to the annuity fluctuates. The actual ratio depends on projected interest rates and other factors. MUSL starts with the cash value, built from a percentage of sales, and then calculates the advertised jackpot amount from that value, based on the average costs of the three best securities bids.[30]

On January 13, 2016, the world's largest lottery jackpot, an annuity of approximately $1.586 billion, was split between three Powerball tickets in Chino Hills, California, Melbourne Beach, Florida and Munford, Tennessee, each worth $528.8 million. Since there is no income tax in Florida or Tennessee (and California does not tax lottery winnings), the cash option after Federal withholdings is $187.2 million each.[31]

On May 18, 2013, the world's largest one-ticket jackpot, an annuity of approximately $590.5 million ($600 million today), was won by a Powerball ticket sold in Zephyrhills, Florida.[32] On June 5, Florida Lottery officials announced the winner: Gloria C. MacKenzie, 84, who purchased the "quick pick" ticket at a Publix supermarket.[33] MacKenzie chose the cash option of approximately $370.8 million, before Federal withholding; Florida does not have an income tax.[33]

Other winners in excess of $250 million: On December 25, 2002, Jack Whittaker, president of a construction firm in Putnam County, West Virginia, won $314.9 million ($414 million today), then a new record for one ticket in an American lottery. Whittaker chose the cash option of $170 million, receiving approximately $83 million after West Virginia and Federal withholdings.[34]

On October 19, 2005, the West family of Jacksonville, Oregon won $340 million ($412 million today).[35] The Wests chose the cash payout of $164.4 million (before witholdings), smaller than Whittaker's cash payout in 2002 due to a then recent change in the annuity structure.

A jackpot of $365 million ($428 million today) was won on February 18, 2006 by one ticket in Nebraska. It was shared by eight people who worked at a meatpacking plant.[36] The group chose the cash option of approximately $177.3 million, before withholdings.

On August 25, 2007, a jackpot worth $314 million ($358 million today) was won by a retired auto worker from Ohio; that ticket was bought in Richmond, Indiana, a community that had previously sold a jackpot-winning ticket of over $200 million.[37]

In November 2011, three Greenwich, Connecticut financial executives shared a jackpot of $254.2 million ($267 million today), the largest prize on a Connecticut-bought ticket.[38] Choosing the cash option, the men split nearly $104 million after withholdings.[38] The jackpot, at the time, was the 12th largest in Powerball history.[38]

Fortune cookie payout

The Powerball drawing on March 30, 2005 produced 110 second-prize winners. The total payout to these winners was $19.4 million, with 89 winners receiving $100,000 each, while the other 21 winners received $500,000 each as they were Power Play selections.

MUSL officials initially suspected fraud or a reporting error. However, all 110 winners had played numbers from fortune cookies made by Wonton Food Inc. of Long Island City, New York. The factory had printed the numbers "22, 28, 32, 33, 39, 40" on thousands of fortunes. The "40" in the fortune did not match the Powerball number, 42. None of the employees of Wonton Food played those numbers; at the time, the closest game member was Connecticut.[39] Since the ticket holders had won as result of a coincidence rather than foul play, the payouts were made.[40]

Had the fortune cookie given 42 as the Powerball number, these winners would have shared the $25 million jackpot: each $227,272 annuity or $122,727 cash (before witholdings).[41] The fortune on the inspiring cookie read: "All the preparation you've done will finally be paying off."[39]

Computers and slot machines

In 2006, WMS Gaming released a range of slot machines under the Powerball brand name. In 2007, the Oregon Lottery released a Windows Sidebar gadget that displays the winning numbers for Powerball in real-time. The gadget also provides large jackpot announcements.

The New York Lottery introduced a Powerball scratchcard in 2010. Five winning numbers plus a powerball were printed across the top of the card, with 12 opportunities to match. Matching the winning numbers or the powerball won. The top prize was $1 million (annuity); unlike actual Powerball, there was no cash option for the top prize.[42]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "How Powerball manipulated the odds to create a $1.5 billion jackpot". Washington Post. January 13, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Frequently Asked Questions". Powerball. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  3. ↑ Danielle Abreu (12 January 2016). "Powerball Jackpot Jumps Again to Record $1.5 Billion". Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "Powerball has a winner in $1.6 billion jackpot". Washington Post. January 13, 2016.
  5. ↑ Helsel, Phil (January 14, 2016). "Powerball Jackpot: Winning Tickets in $1.5 Billion Lottery Sold in Calif., Fla., Tenn.". NBC News. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ Hoosier Lottery History Archived February 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "History". Powerball. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ "Mega Millions Official Home". Megamillions.com. October 13, 2009. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Powerball Lottery Drawings to Be Available Live on the Internet", TransWorldNews, November 9, 2009. Retrieved on 2009-12-07.
  11. ↑ "Live Powerball drawings online". Powerballlive.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Penn Ohio Lottery & Deli in Sharon, PA 16146". Local.post-gazette.com. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  13. ↑ Lotto, Lucy (June 30, 2011). "Powerball Lottery Changes for 2012". WorldLottery.net. Retrieved September 4, 2013. The first and biggest change to the Powerball Lottery is the introduction of the $40 million base jackpot. Now, when the Powerball Lottery jackpot is reset after a win it will start at $40 million, tempting even more players in for those early draws. Another promise, that is sure to be popular with lottery players, is the introduction of more prizes. From January, Powerball players will have even better odds of winning a prize worth at least $1 million, and it’s that fact that may soften the third and biggest ever change. From January 15, 2012, Powerball Lottery tickets are doubling in price, in what is the biggest change to the Powerball Lottery draw since its launch in 1994.
  14. ↑ Lokay, Jim. "Changes To Powerball Coming In 2012". CBS Pittsburgh. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  15. ↑ on November 27. Powerball jackpot hits record $500m as lotteries work to build up higher prizes
  16. ↑ Strauss, Gary (February 14, 2012). Lottery jackpots may get bigger. USA Today. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Mega Millions jackpot reaches record $500 million". Komo News. Sinclair Interactive Media. March 28, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2013. The jackpot was originally announced at $476 million early Wednesday morning but rampant ticket sales boosted the estimated payout to the $500 million mark. Tuesday night's jackpot was $363 million, fed by weeks of drawings without a top winner. It has rolled 18 times since Marcia Adams of College Park won $72 million in the Jan. 24 drawing. A winner could get $19.2 million a year for 26 years or a single payment worth $359 million. The next drawing is Friday at 11 p.m. The previous record jackpot in the Mega Millions game was $390 million in 2007, split by two winners in New Jersey and Georgia.
  18. 1 2 "Powerball - History". www.powerball.com. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  19. 1 2 "How Powerball manipulated the odds to create a $1.6 billion jackpot". Washington Post. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  20. 1 2 Redfern, Mike (7 July 2015). "Powerball Changes to Take Effect in October 2015". Lottery World.
  21. ↑ "Three-way split for winners of record $1.6 bn lottery". Yahoo!. Agence France-Presse. January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  22. ↑ Odds are, you won't like this Powerball storyRetrieved 2015-07-09.
  23. ↑ "Changes Coming to Powerball...". Multi-State Lottery Association. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  24. ↑ "NEW YORK STATE GAMING COMMISSION AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS 5004.9, 5007.2, 5007.13, 5007.15, 5007.16, 5009.2 and 5010.2 OF NEW YORK CODES, RULES AND REGULATIONS TITLE 9, SUBTITLE T, CHAPTER III, SUBCHAPTER A" (PDF). New York State Gaming Commission. New York State Gaming Commission. p. 4. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  25. ↑ "Powerball as of January 19, 2014 – New Prize Structure". nmlottery.com. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Powerball - Contact". Multi-State Lottery Association. Retrieved 2015-08-02. Sure, the odds of matching 1 red ball out of 35 are 1 in 35, but we are not giving the odds for matching a red ball. We give the odds for winning a prize for matching one red ball ALONE. If you match the red ball plus at least one white ball, you win some other prize, but not this prize. The odds of matching one red ball ALONE are harder than 1 in 35 because there is some risk that you will also match one or more white ball numbers - and then win a different prize.
  27. ↑ "Welcome to Powerball – Prizes". Powerball.com. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Powerball - How To Play". Powerball.com. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Powerball". Floridalottery.com. January 18, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Why Has the Cash Jackpot Gone Down?" Powerball Frequently Asked Questions.
  31. ↑ "Powerball winners: Annuity or lump sum?". Money.CNN.com. January 14, 2016.
  32. ↑ "$590M Zephyrhills Powerball winner announced during news conference". WFTV. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  33. 1 2 Strauss, Gary (June 5, 2013). "And the winner of the $590.5 million Powerball jackpot is...". USA Today. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  34. ↑ http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2012-12-13/lottery-winner-jack-whittakers-losing-ticket "Lottery Winner Jack Whittaker's Losing Ticket"
  35. ↑ "Winners of $340 million Powerball lottery step forward – Lottery News". Lotterypost.com. November 8, 2005. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  36. ↑ "Who won Powerball's $365 million? – US news – Life". MSNBC. February 23, 2006. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Retired auto worker, 2 children claim $314M Powerball lottery jackpot – Lottery News". Lotterypost.com. September 12, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  38. 1 2 3 Helhoski, Anna. "Greenwich Powerball Winners To Give to Charity". The Greenwich Daily Voice. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  39. 1 2 Garcia, Michelle (May 12, 2005). "Smart cookie brings good fortune to 110 in Powerball". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  40. ↑ "Fortune cookie bet made Powerball lottery players rich". The Seattle Times. May 11, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Powerball Drawing Detail for Wednesday, March 30, 2005". USA Mega. March 30, 2005. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  42. ↑ "New York Lottery". Nylottery.org. Retrieved April 14, 2011.

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Mega Millions		 World's largest lottery jackpot
January 8, 2016 – present 		Succeeded by
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