The Powerball drawing
Everything about the Powerball drawing: when and where it takes place, what Power Play and Double Play add, how the game began and has changed over the years, the biggest jackpots in its history and how it compares with Mega Millions.
Powerball drawing time and place
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET, at the Florida Lottery studio in Tallahassee. The time in your zone, sales cutoffs and how it's drawn.
Powerball states: where you can play in the U.S.
The 48 lotteries that sell Powerball and the states that don't: where you can buy online, the minimum age, Double Play, and each state's sales cutoff, claim deadline and state tax.
Power Play and Double Play
Power Play multiplies your non-jackpot prizes by up to 10X; Double Play, in some states, puts your numbers in a second drawing with a $10 million top prize.
The history of Powerball
From Lotto America in 1988 and 15 lotteries in 1992 to all 48 U.S. lotteries, the first billion-dollar jackpot and the UK launch in 2026.
The biggest Powerball jackpots
Eight Powerball jackpots have topped $1 billion, led by the record $2.04 billion of 2022. Where they were won, their cash value and what they have in common.
Powerball changes over the years
From 5 of 45 at $1 in 1992 to 5 of 69 + 1 of 26 today: every change to the matrix, the price, the starting jackpot and the drawing schedule.
Powerball vs. Mega Millions
Almost the same jackpot odds, but different prices, drawing days, multipliers and prizes. The two biggest U.S. lotteries, compared side by side.
When and how Powerball is drawn
Powerball is drawn three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 PM ET, at the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee. Five white balls come from one machine and the red Powerball from another, under the observation of an independent accounting firm. The time in your zone and the sales cutoff are in Powerball drawing time and place.
Each drawing also sets the Power Play multiplier, and in some states a second drawing, Double Play, gives your numbers another chance at a $10 million top prize: both in Power Play and Double Play.
The game has come a long way since its first drawing in 1992, as told in the history of Powerball and Powerball changes over the years. Its record jackpots are in the biggest Powerball jackpots, and the differences with its big rival in Powerball vs. Mega Millions. We post the winning numbers shortly after every drawing in results.