Powerball PA gives players a chance to become instant millionaires. The game first launched in 1992, and since then, players in Pennsylvania have been picking their five numbers and bonus Powerball number with the hopes of striking it lucky. In this guide, we introduce you to the game of Powerball, how it works, how to play and the prizes you can win.
Powerball is a lottery game run by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a nonprofit foundation established by US lotteries like the PA Lottery. The organization offers Powerball in 45 states across the nation. Players in PA can purchase their tickets through the Pennsylvania Lottery, which regulates ticket sales and prize payouts in the state. Pennsylvania is also one of the few states allowing players to purchase tickets online.
The minimum jackpot advertised for Powerball starts at $40 million. However, this value rolls over each draw until someone matches all six numbers, so the jackpot for Powerball can reach huge values.
Playing the PA Lottery Powerball is relatively straightforward. Here, players are required to select six numbers in total. The first five numbers must come from the first pool that offers numbers 1 to 69. However, the sixth number is the Powerball number, and players must select this number from the second pool. This red Powerball number has a pool of numbers from 1 to 26.
For example, a player may pick the PA Powerball numbers: 3, 7, 18, 34, 69, and the Powerball number 21.
A Pennsylvania Powerball Lottery ticket costs $2. However, for an additional $1, players can include the Power Play option or the Double Play option. Alternatively, for $4, players can add the Double Play and the Power Play options.
Powerball drawings in PA take place three times a week, on a Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday night. Here, there are 69 white balls, each given a number between one and 69, and 26 red Powerballs, each numbered between one and 26. First, five white balls are randomly drawn, followed by a single red ball. If a player’s numbers they chose on their ticket match all six balls, they win the jackpot.
Players with fewer correct numbers can also win prizes. However, if no one wins the jackpot, it carries over to the next draw and offers an increased jackpot value.
Unfortunately, the odds of winning the Pennsylvania Powerball jackpot are slim and set at 1 in 292,201,338. However, players have a much greater chance of winning something, as the overall odds of winning a prize come in at 1 to 24.87. Keep in mind that these odds are fixed and don’t change according to the jackpot value or the number of tickets sold.
Additionally, the PA Lottery keeps all prizes at set values, with the exception of the jackpot. Below, we have created a table highlighting the odds for a regular $2 Powerball ticket:
Powerball Pennsylvania gives players more ways to play and win by offering the Power Play add-on. By paying an additional $1, players can add the Power Play option to their tickets. The Power Play gives players the chance to increase their winnings on all prizes except for the jackpot.
The Power Play has several values or multipliers, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. Before the Powerball drawings in PA, the Power Play number will be chosen at random. So, for example, if the Power Play number five was chosen and you had added the Power Play option to your ticket, and you won a non-jackpot prize in the draw, your prize would then be multiplied five times to give you your actual winnings.
However, there are two caveats that the PA Lottery puts in place. Firstly, Powerball only offers the 10X Power Play with jackpots of $150 million or less. Then, the Match 5 Power Play prize is always set at $2 million.
Below, you can find a table highlighting the various Power Play winnings.
While adding the Power Play option increases your winnings, it also slightly decreases your odds. Below, we look at the odds for playing Power Play:
Powerball Pennsylvania has recently added another exciting way for PA players to experience Powerball. Players can include the new Double Play add-on on their tickets for an additional $1 per play.
Double Play has a PA Powerball drawing of its own, which takes place after the official Powerball draw. This game uses a player’s same numbers taken for the Powerball but gives them a second chance to win. The concept works the same as for the original Powerball, where a player must match up their chosen numbers with those randomly selected from the Double Play draw.
However, there are a few important considerations here. Firstly, Double Play is an additional way to play and doesn’t replace the Power Play add on, which applies to the original Powerball drawing. Since the Power Play numbers only apply to the original Powerball draw and not the Double Play draw, multipliers cannot be applied to the Double Play numbers. For this reason, players can include both Power Play and Double Draw add-ons to their tickets.
Below, you’ll find a table outlining the Double Draw winnings available and the odds:
If you want to play the PA Lottery Powerball, you’ll find taking a ticket is quick and easy. The PA Lottery provides several ways for players to purchase tickets.
Players have two options when buying a Powerball ticket. Firstly, they can select their own numbers and mark them off on a pay slip, or they can let a lottery terminal computer choose random numbers for them using the Quick Pick option. PA players can purchase these tickets at one of the 9,000+ licensed Pennsylvania Lottery retailers dotted across the state.
Pennsylvania is also one of the only states that offers its players the convenience of buying their Powerball tickets online. In 2020, the PA iLottery launched, making it easy for players to purchase their Powerball tickets online from the comfort of home. Here, players can select their own PA Powerball numbers or take a Quick Pick. Better still, those who find themselves always on the go can download the PA iLottery app.
But keep in mind that while there are several of the best online casinos in Pennsylvania that offer online lottery-style games like keno and scratch cards, these sites do not offer players the opportunity to purchase PA Lottery tickets for Powerball or Megaball. So, we recommend trying the PA Lottery app instead when buying your tickets.
Pennsylvania’s state lottery has made life easier for players by sticking with the times and introducing a downloadable app. Players can download the app and install it on their mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. Since the app is compatible with iOS and Android operating systems, players can, depending on their device, visit the Google PlayStore or the Apple AppStore to access the application.
The PA iLottery app allows players to purchase Pennsylvania Powerball tickets while on the go. But it also has several additional features. For instance, players can use the ticket checker that instantly highlights whether they have won a prize.
To use this feature, players can simply tap the “Scan Ticket” button. Then scan the ticket using their device’s camera on the ticket barcode. The app will immediately highlight whether it is a winning ticket. This function can be used for other raw games too, like checking your results for the PA Megaball games.
Although a relatively new concept, buying Powerball Pennsylvania tickets online is quick and easy to do. Below, you’ll find a short guide that will take you through the steps:
First, open the Pennsylvania Lottery website on your device. While you can do this by searching for the site in your web browser, it is quicker and easier to click one of the handy links offered in this article.
On the homepage that launches, click the green “Join” button to call up the registration page. Then, fill in the required details on the registration form that opens. When you’re ready, you can click “Create Account.
Before you can continue, you’ll need to verify your PA lottery account. The Lottery will email you a verification link. So, head to your email inbox, find the mail, and click the link to complete verification. Once you have done this, you can sign back into your lottery account.
Now, it’s time to purchase your ticket. So, click the “Play Online” tab at the top of the screen. From the drop-down menu, choose the “Buy Draw Games” option. On the page that opens, select the “Powerball” option. Next, select your numbers or opt for a Quick Pick. Once you’re done, you can purchase your ticket.
Choose the payment method that you want to use (the Lottery accepts several including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, PayNearMe, Instant ACH, and Play+). Then add in the amount payable and follow the prompts to make your payment. The lottery will then issue you with a ticket. You can also deposit funds into your PA Lottery account using the same method and then use these funds to purchase your ticket.
The PA Powerball drawing takes place three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Players are advised to take note that the cut-off time for purchasing a Powerball ticket for a particular draw is on the same day of the draw at 9:59 PM. However, retailers are allowed to impose their own cut-off based on their retail hours. The Powerball PA drawing time is 11 PM, and the Double Play draw takes place shortly after that.
Ticket holders can check their Powerball PA Lottery tickets in a few different ways. Firstly, players can use the ticket checker feature on the PA iLottery app to scan their tickets to see if they hit any of the winning numbers.
Alternatively, players can visit one of the retailers where they purchase their Powerball tickets in person to scan and check their tickets. Another way to check to see if you have won a prize is to watch the broadcast of the draw, which several television stations air at various times, and check your ticket as the numbers come up. Players can watch the Powerball draw on various stations, including:
PA players can also see if they have a winning ticket by visiting the Pennsylvania iLottery website to see the numbers there and check if they have won.
The PA Powerball jackpot is the most sought-after prize in this game, and understandably so. This prize starts at a whopping $40 million, but if no one has all six winning numbers for that draw, the $40 million rolls over to the next draw and increases in value. Rollovers of the jackpot prize continue until a player finally hits all six numbers. As a result, the jackpot value can head into the billions. For instance, the Lottery recorded the biggest Powerball payout at over $2 billion. In Pennsylvania, there have been 19 Powerball jackpot winners so far, and you could be next.
Below, we review the top five biggest PA Powerball jackpot values to date:
How you claim your PA Powerball payouts depends on the value of your ticket. However, the various ways players have to collect their winnings are all straightforward and make claiming prizes quick and easy.
One aspect to keep in mind is that all players who win prizes exceeding $600 must complete a claims form, as required by the IRS, as part of a federal tax declaration. PA players can find these forms at local PA Lottery offices or at retailers who sell Powerball PA tickets.
Players with tickets that have won prizes less than $2,500 can visit one of the local Powerball retailers to claim their PA Powerball payouts instantly. If that particular retailer doesn’t have sufficient cash to make the payout, then you can visit another retailer or claim your prize by mail.
Players who possess winning tickets exceeding $2,500 in value will need to take their ticket to a PA Lottery office. While players can submit their tickets in person along with their claims form, they can also submit the ticket to the office by mail.
Finally, those looking to receive PA Powerball payouts for hitting the jackpot will need to visit the Pennsylvania Lottery headquarters, located in Middleton. The Lottery organization will need to verify the ticket and establish its validity. Once this has taken place, the Lottery will offer a player two ways in which they can receive their payout.
Players can claim their prize as a single lump-sum payout or as an annuity over 29 years. Those who opt for an annuity payout will receive their prize in 30 payments made over the course of 29 years. These payments will increase in value annually by five percent until the final payout.
For example, if a PA player won a $100 million Powerball jackpot, they would receive an initial payment of $1,5 million. This value would increase by five percent each year until the final payout, with an approximate value of $6.2 million.
So, how long does the PA Lottery take to pay out Powerball winnings? In most cases, a PA Powerball payout takes between four to six weeks to reach a player’s bank account once officials have verified and validated a ticket. However, keep in mind that the Lottery typically delays December claims, only paying them out in January to keep a cohesive tax year.
Individuals who have played the PA Lottery Powerball but that live out-of-state can still claim their prizes using mail. Players will need to complete the back of their ticket and sign it. Then, we recommend making a copy of both the back and front of the ticket for your own records. Players must then mail the ticket with their claims form (if necessary) to the Lottery office.
Players can mail their original, signed ticket and claims form to:
Pennsylvania Lottery ATTN: CLAIMS 1200 Fulling Mill Road, Suite 1 Middletown, PA 17057
Playing Powerball is a lot of fun and winning is even better. However, there is one crucial step players must take if they find themselves in possession of a winning ticket. To safeguard themselves and their winnings, the PA Lottery requires players to complete the back of their tickets. By turning the ticket over, players will find a place to fill in their details, including their name, address, phone number, and signature.
Taking the time to complete this step is essential as each lottery ticket is a bearer document. In other words, it is legally owned by whoever possesses it until it is signed. For example, if you hand over your unsigned Powerball ticket to a friend and they sign it with their name, that winning ticket belongs to them, and you have no grounds to claim theft or fraud. So, always sign your ticket before handing it over to anyone.
Although most players have their tickets at the ready on draw night, it can happen that you take a PA Lottery Powerball ticket and then forget that you have it. This can prove problematic as Powerball tickets come with an expiration date of one year from the day of the draw. So, if you find that lost ticket, check it immediately.
Additionally, keep in mind that if you find a winning ticket that has a value of more than $100, you can no longer claim your prize at a lottery retailer if more than 180 days have passed since the draw. Instead, you will need to take the ticket to a PA Lottery office to claim your prize.
While players always hope that their winning ticket is the only ticket with all six numbers correct, it can happen that multiple players have the same numbers. For example, a player in California may have the same numbers chosen as a player in Pennsylvania and a player in Florida. If these numbers are drawn as the winning numbers, all three players will have won the Powerball jackpot. In this instance, the Lottery will validate all three tickets and verify them, and then split the jackpot value equally between all three players.
One of the top features offered by the Powerball PA site is the option to check whether your numbers have ever come up as winning Powerball numbers. You can also check historically to see which numbers have been winning numbers. Below, you can find a list of the most recent winning numbers for Powerball:
Playing Powerball is exciting and offers players a range of ways to win and even strike it lucky in a big way. However, this can lead to gambling addiction. If you or someone you know is battling a gambling problem, then try contacting the resources below.
Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-426-2537
National Council on Problem Gambling
Council on Compulsive Gambling Pennsylvania
Each Powerball game costs $2 and players can add on Power Play for an additional dollar per game. Likewise, players can also add Double Play to their game for another $1. Players can purchase up to 20 games in advance. If a player were to play all 20 games, with both Double Play and Power Play added, their ticket would cost them $80.
Powerball drawings in Pennsylvania are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. The draw takes place at 10:59 pm, and the drawings are then broadcast on several television channels between 11:00 pm and 11:25 pm. However, the cut-off time to purchase a Powerball ticket for a draw on one of these days is 9:59 pm.
Pennsylvania added Powerball to its lottery offerings in 2002. Since then, there have been 19 Powerball winners from Pennsylvania, making it the state with the most Powerball winners overall.
Generally speaking, a winner will receive their payout check in four to six weeks from the time their claim has been submitted to and verified by the Lottery Headquarters.However, claims submitted in December are usually only validated and paid out in January of the following year.
