Powerball is a lotto game which is a combined large jackpot game and a cash game. Every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time, we draw five white balls out of a drum with 53 balls and one red ball out of a drum with 42 red balls. Players win by matching one of the 9 Ways to Win. The jackpot (won by matching all five white balls in any order and the red PowerBall) is either an annuitized prize paid out over 29 years (30 payments) or a lump sum payment. You no longer have to select the payment option at the time of purchase. The tax law has changed to give you up to 60 days until after you claim the prize to decide whether you want cash or the annuity option. The second prize (won by matching five white balls in any order) is $100,000 paid in cash. Any time you match the red PowerBall, you win. The overall odds of winning a prize in the game is better than 1 in 36.06.
Power Play is a special feature that allows a winner to multiply the original prize amount. Powerball players can multiply their Powerball prizes by 2,3,4 or 5 times (does not inlclude the jackpot). A player must choose the Power Play option when they buy their Powerball ticket, and then the ticket must match one of the non-jackpot prizes before the multiplier takes effect.