How to Play Powerball; a Beginner's Guide

Powerball is one of the biggest lottos in the world. While the chances of hitting the jackpot are slim, there have been many Powerball winners. The best thing about Powerball is that if there is no winner in any draw, the jackpot amount increases. This guide has it all for those who want to try their luck in Powerball.

What is Powerball?

Powerball is one of the biggest lotteries in the world. This is both in terms of the jackpot size and where it is available. So far, the most considerable Powerball jackpot amount ever won stands at $1.586 billion. Still, it was split among three winners. All the same, the winners had something to smile about.

Powerball is available in 45 US states plus three other jurisdictions; the US Virgin Islands, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. While it's a US lottery, anyone can participate, regardless of their location, as long as they are of legal age. There are many online dealers who buy lottery tickets on behalf of players who are not in the jurisdictions where tickets are sold.

How to play Powerball

Now, how is Powerball played? Well, Powerball is straightforward to play; no special skills are required. First, players need to purchase tickets available at convenience stores, groceries and as mentioned earlier, they can also be purchased online. The cost of one Powerball ticket is $2, but then, in several jurisdictions, players can go for Powerball Power Play at an extra $1. Powerball Power Play is an exclusive feature that boosts non-jackpot winnings by up to ten times.

The gameplay

Just like in MegaMillions, there are two drums in Powerball. One drum has white balls (WB) marked one to 69, while the other has power balls (PB) marked one to 26. The objective of the game is to match the winning numbers; five from the first drum and one from the second drum

Draws are held three times a week. For starters, Powerball draws are events when the company announces the winning combinations. While hitting the jackpot is the ultimate aim, there are eight other ways to win.

What are the odds of winning?

As mentioned above, winning Powerball is quite hard. Below are the odds of winning:

• Grand Prize $40 million+ (5WB + PB): one in 292,201,338
• $1,000,000 (5WB): one in 11,688,053
• $50,000 (4WB + PB): one in 913,129
• $100 (4WB): one in 36,525
• $100 (3WB + PB): one in 14,494
• $7 (3WB): one in 580
• $7 (2WB + PB): one in 701
• $4 (1WB + PB): one in 92
• $4 (PB only): one in 38

Powerball jackpot winnings can be paid in two ways; a lump sum or annuity. Lump sums are lower than the amount won, while annuities are more than the amount won.

Powerball tips and tricks

Powerball is a game of chance, but there are some tips and tricks that enhance the chances of winning.

One of the strategies is, of course, buying many tickets, obviously with different combinations. This can be costly, but it raises the probability of hitting one of the winning combinations. Another tip is to join Powerball pools. 

Hope that one member wins the lottery and then shares the proceeds among the others. Lastly, identifying the common winning numbers can go a long way. Lotto sites such as Lotto Ranker have many other tips to help players win Powerball.

That's it, an essential guide on how to play Powerball. While it's hard to win big, it's still worth trying. There have been dozens of winners since this lottery was started, so winning is not an impossibility. But then, players must make sure they play responsibly. Powerball is addictive and should not be a substitute for work or school.