The Powerball jackpot for Saturday, December 20 has climbed to a staggering $1.5 billion, ranking among the biggest lottery prizes ever offered in the multi-state game.
Should a player win, they could receive approximately $689.3 million as a lump-sum cash payment.
While the odds of hitting the jackpot are extremely low at 1 in 292.2 million, many still participate hoping for a life-changing win. For those interested in trying their luck, here's an overview of how Powerball operates.
Understanding Powerball Gameplay
To secure the grand prize, participants need to match all five white balls in any sequence along with the red Powerball number.
When purchasing a ticket, players select six numbers: five ranging from 1 to 69 for the white balls, and one from 1 to 26 for the Powerball.
Numbers can be chosen manually or generated randomly by the lottery terminal. An optional "Power Play" feature costs an extra $1 and boosts non-jackpot winnings, though it doesn't affect the main prize.
The jackpot amount increases with each drawing until someone wins it.
Other Winning Opportunities
Powerball offers multiple prize tiers below the jackpot, some of which can reach hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
The Power Play multiplier can increase these secondary prizes by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times based on rules. A random multiplier is chosen before each draw, with the 10X option available only when the annuity jackpot is $150 million or less.
Prize examples include $4 for matching just the Powerball, $100 for three white balls plus the Powerball, $50,000 for four white balls plus the Powerball, and $1 million for all five white balls alone.
Ticket Details and Purchasing
Each Powerball play costs $2. Adding both Power Play and Double Play options brings the total to $4 per ticket.
In Ohio, tickets must be bought by 10 p.m. ET on drawing days. They are available at various retail locations like gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery stores, as well as through authorized online platforms.
Drawing and Claiming Information
Drawings occur every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, broadcast live on the Powerball website.
Winning tickets in Ohio must be claimed within 180 days. Smaller prizes up to $599 can be cashed at retailers, while larger amounts require visiting Ohio Lottery offices. Jackpot winners choose between annuity payments or a cash option.
