Powerball is Drawn
How the Powerball is drawn is a highly secretive process. It happens at a studio in Tallahassee, Florida, where two machines each worth $50,000 randomly select the winning numbers. The drawing starts several hours before the drawing, and the equipment is kept in a double-locked vault.
The prize amounts are based on the probable number of winners sharing the prize pool, and the prize amounts may be less or more than published. The Powerball product group will announce the prize amounts after the drawing. You must be a resident of your state to buy a ticket. You can check the drawing results at the Powerball website.
Powerball drawings are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Tickets must be purchased by 8:59 p.m. ET on the day of the drawing. You may purchase additional tickets for $2 each. It is also possible to purchase Power Play tickets. These tickets allow you to play additional boards.
How the Powerball is Drawn
When you purchase a ticket, you can select up to four balls, but you must match at least two of them. If you match all five white balls, you can win $2 million. However, no ticket matched all five numbers on Saturday night. The winning numbers will be drawn based on the lottery matrix.
When you purchase your ticket, you must be at least eighteen years old in order to participate. If you win, you have 60 days to claim your prize. However, if you win the jackpot, you must claim it within that timeframe. The money must be claimed within the jurisdiction where the ticket was purchased.
If you do not win the prize on the first try, you can request another one. You can claim your prize in your state by mailing your ticket to the lottery office. If you win the Powerball jackpot, you can choose to receive the prize in 30 installments or lump sum cash. However, you should keep in mind that the prize period varies between states.
If you do not wish to wait for the Powerball drawings, you can purchase Quick Pick tickets. These tickets cost two dollars each. The Quick Pick numbers are randomly chosen by a computer. If you match five white balls and one red one, you win the jackpot. During the next drawing, you can choose different numbers to match the red ball. Regardless of which way you decide to play, you should check your ticket carefully after purchase.
You can also play Power Play with your money. It costs $2 per ticket and is an add-on game. The Power Play multiplies non-jackpot prizes by two times. If you match your Powerball numbers with the double Play numbers, you can win up to $10,000,000 in cash. If you win, the Double Play drawing will also be broadcast.
There are 45 states and the District of Columbia that offer Powerball tickets. The proceeds of Powerball tickets stay mostly in the state where they are sold. Each state sets prizes for the first, second and ninth place winners at a predetermined amount. However, California bases the payouts on sales and the number of winners. A Powerball ticket can have nine winning combinations. The smallest combination has the highest odds.
