Your Easy Powerball Power Play Explainer
If you've played Powerball before, you're probably already aware of what makes this blockbuster lottery so special. That's right, Powerball holds the world record for awarding the biggest jackpot of all time - a whopping $2.04 billion! Knowing that, it's no wonder why it's such a popular lottery, but what if we told you that Powerball also has a special multiplier that can turn even its second-division prizes into spectacular amounts of money? Read our Powerball Power Play explainer for all the reasons you should, or shouldn't, go for this ticket add-on.
What is Powerball Power Play?
Powerball Power Play is multiplier available for purchase as a small additional fee to your regular Powerball entry.
While Power Play does not have any impact on the Powerball jackpot, it boosts the final winnings of all second-division prizes.
Power Play can double Powerball's $1 million 2nd-place prize, and has the potential to multiply the 3rd through 9th-place prizes by up to 10 times!
However, the 10x multiplier is only available when the jackpot is worth $150 million or less. Otherwise, the maximum multiplier is 5x.
See this table for a rundown of what Power Play can do when the jackpot is higher than $150 million:
|
5+ PB
|
Min.
$20 Million
|
Min.
$20 Million
|
Min.
$20 Million
|
Min.
$20 Million
|
Min.
$20 Million
|
|
5
|
$1 Million
|
$2 Million
|
$2 Million
|
$2 Million
|
$2 Million
|
|
4 + PB
|
$50,000
|
$100,000
|
$150,000
|
$200,000
|
$250,000
|
|
4
|
$100
|
$200
|
$300
|
$400
|
$500
|
|
3 + PB
|
$100
|
$200
|
$300
|
$400
|
$500
|
|
3
|
$7
|
$14
|
$21
|
$28
|
$35
|
|
2 + PB
|
$7
|
$14
|
$21
|
$28
|
$35
|
|
1 + PB
|
$4
|
$8
|
$12
|
$16
|
$20
|
|
0 + PB
|
$4
|
$8
|
$12
|
$16
|
$20
|
*$20 million is the estimated starting Powerball jackpot.
How are the Powerball Power Play numbers picked?
The Power Play number is an extra number selected randomly alongside the usual Powerball numbers.
The numbers 2, 3, 4, and 5 go into the barrel (along with 10 when the jackpot is worth less than $150 million) and whichever number is drawn determines what the multiplier will be for all the players who purchased the Power Play add-on.
If one of those players is also lucky enough to win second-division prize, they'll winning amounts will be multiplied by the Power Play number! For example, a 3rd-place prize of $50,000 could suddenly be worth as much as $500,000!
Is the Powerball multiplier even worth it?
All of this might make the Power Play add-on sound like a pretty great deal, and for those lucky enough to win Powerball prizes it definitely is. What's important for you to remember, however, is that the multiplier in no way increases your chances of winning. Paying more for tickets, only to still risk winning nothing in return, could understandably be a dealbreaker for many. That's why when deciding whether or not to add the multiplier to your theLotter Colorado ticket purchases you should think about what's more important to you: buying more tickets at the minimum price, or maximizing your prize amount if you do happen to win.
Can you add the Power Play multiplier on theLotter Colorado?
Yes! When playing Powerball simply check the "Multiplier Power Play" checkbox under where you select your lucky numbers.
Regardless of whether you go with the multiplier or not, we wish you the best of luck on all your tickets!