How is Powerball Played?
How is Powerball Played: Drawings
Twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday nights at 10:59 PM Eastern Time, the magic happens. They draw five white balls from a drum containing 69, and then one red Powerball from a separate drum with 26. This whole event takes place in a secure studio and is broadcast live, so you can watch the numbers get pulled and either celebrate wildly or sigh dramatically on your couch. What You Can Win Powerball has nine different ways to win, from the massive jackpot down to smaller prizes that might just cover the cost of your next coffee. Here's a look at the prizes and your chances of actually winning them:- Jackpot (Match 5 main numbers + Powerball): The odds? A cool 1 in 292,201,338. So, yeah, it's a long shot, but someone's gotta win, right?
- Second Prize (Match 5 main numbers): You'll pocket a cool $1 million if this happens. The odds are a slightly less astronomical 1 in 11,688,053.
- Third Prize (Match 4 main numbers + Powerball): This gets you $50,000, with odds of 1 in 913,129. Not bad for a few lucky numbers!
- Fourth Prize (Match 4 main numbers): You win $100, and the odds are 1 in 36,525.
- Fifth Prize (Match 3 main numbers + Powerball): Another $100 for you, with odds of 1 in 14,494.
- Sixth Prize (Match 3 main numbers): This nets you $7, with odds of 1 in 579. Enough for a decent lunch!
- Seventh Prize (Match 2 main numbers + Powerball): You get $7, and the odds are 1 in 701.
- Eighth Prize (Match 1 main number + Powerball): A $4 win, with odds of 1 in 92. You almost broke even!
- Ninth Prize (Match the Powerball only): You also get $4, and the odds are the best of the bunch at 1 in 38.