Powerball
$2 per playPick five numbers from 1–69 and a Powerball from 1–26 for $2. Jackpot starts at $20 million and rolls until someone matches all six. Power Play (+$1) multiplies non-jackpot prizes 2X–10X; Double Play (+$1) enters your numbers in a second drawing with fixed prizes up to $10 million.
The misleading version — advertised annuity, pre-tax, ignoring co-winners — says 27.6%. That's the number the billboard wants you to feel.
- Return reaches 50¢ per $1 at a $902.5M advertised jackpot.
- The base ticket only beats its best add-on (53%) above a $1014.8M jackpot.
- Break-even never happens once tax and co-winners are counted. It's entertainment, priced.
Recomputed live from current assumptions — not a stored claim.
Add-on math
10X ball in play at this jackpot; expected multiplier 2.77x.
Right now the add-on is the better half of the ticket.
Fixed prizes, so this return never moves with the jackpot.
Right now the add-on is the better half of the ticket.
Prizes & official odds
| Match | Odds | Prize ($1 play) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | Jackpot |
| 5 | 1 in 11,688,054 | $1,000,000 |
| 4 + Powerball | 1 in 913,129 | $50,000 |
| 4 | 1 in 36,525 | $100 |
| 3 + Powerball | 1 in 14,494 | $100 |
| 3 | 1 in 580 | $7 |
| 2 + Powerball | 1 in 701 | $7 |
| 1 + Powerball | 1 in 91.98 | $4 |
| Powerball only | 1 in 38.32 | $4 |
Source: official odds page · retrieved 2026-07-04 · tables verified against the published overall odds
Recent drawings
All Powerball numbers & payouts →The best scratch-offs on the shelf are returning 75–85% right now — draw games only get close when a jackpot runs. See the scratch board →
Jackpot thresholds crossed, games going hot or dead — no noise.