Changes to Powerball game start today

October 4, 2015 Posted by NC Lottery at 6:20 PM

Beginning today, Powerball players will play an updated version of the game designed to continue to deliver big jackpots while increasing some other significant prizes.

As we first blogged in July, the new version of the Powerball game will:

- Provide better overall odds of winning any prize.

- Increase to $50,000 the game’s third prize level.

- Offer a chance for players who Power Play to multiply most winnings by up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.

The first drawing under the new version of the game will be held Wednesday.

The enhancement to the Power Play option adds a 10X multiplier to the game. Before, players could multiply many prizes by up to five times by adding the Power Play option for an extra $1 per play. Now the multipliers that could be picked during the drawing will be 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

Let’s say the jackpot is $100 million and you win a $50,000 prize for matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball. If you added the Power Play option and the 10X multiplier is selected, your $50,000 prize would be multiplied to $500,000.

Under the new game features, the odds for winning an overall prize will improve while the odds of winning the jackpot get longer. The overall odds of winning any prize decrease from one in 32 to one in 25. The odds of winning a jackpot will increase from 1 in 175 million to 1 in 292 million. The range of numbers for the white balls expands from 1-59 to 1-69. The numbers for the Powerball shift from 1-35 to 1-26.

Here’s a look at parts of the game that don’t change:

- Tickets will still cost $2 or $3 when the Power Play option is added.

- Jackpots will continue to start at $40 million.

- The game second prize for matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball – the Match 5 prize - will still be $1 million and $2 million with Power Play^® is added.

- Drawings will continue to be held at 10:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Since the game came to our state in 2006, four North Carolinians have won a Powerball jackpot so far. If you have questions about the new Powerball game, please call our customer service helpline at (877) 962-7529.

32 COMMENTS

10/10/2015 09:10 - Melvin R.

If I purchase a whole pack of tickets such as the $10 Platinum 7's is it any truth like the previous Player posted that there are whole packs of tickets in NC that have zero winners? The odds of the Platinum 7's says 1 in 3.47 wins.NC Lottery
It is in fact not possible for a roll of tickets to have no winning tickets on it. The odds of the game are set at the beginning and tickets are distributed at random throughout the entire printing run of the game. But the printing specs are designed to ensure that there are no rolls of tickets without winning tickets.

10/08/2015 10:56 - Donnell G.

From the horse's mouth, "there will always be MANY more non-winning tickets than winning tickets". The first Tuesday tickets are a joke. They let you win 10, 20, 50, 100 to suck you in. The big prize may never come as they might cancel the ticket before the big prize has been bought. As always, don't put your hope in the big prize coming quick on the first Tuesday tickets and if you plan to win the big one, buy in upscale places.

10/08/2015 10:41 - Angela S.

A pack of $30 tickets costs $900; pack of $20 tickets, $600; and packs of $10 or $5 tickets, $300. Remember. It only takes one ticket to win. That is so true only one. Don't waste your money buying hold packs.NC has pack with not one winning ticket in the pack. There are many like this in the local store. That's why there are not many winners anyway. Old or new tickets.NC Lottery
We appreciate your advice that it might just take one ticket to win and we don't recommend buying entire packs of tickets unless you can afford to spend that much on games of chance with no guarantee of winning. There will always be many more non-winning tickets than winning tickets, that's where the prize money comes from. Good luck to everyone!

10/08/2015 07:13 - Brian S.

What a bunch of garbage. At 175 million to 1, the Powerball WAS impossible to win. Now it has been "enhanced" by the greedy states so the odds of winning are now 300 MILLION to one. The only winner of these games are the states, who sit back and collect enourmous profits while the players get conned.NC Lottery
Draw games pay out at a rate of 50% over time, and the changes to Powerball don't change that. It just means the jackpot is more likely to roll more times before it is won. Do you ever play Cash 5? It has much better odds of winning.

10/08/2015 06:20 - Terry G.

$30.00 ticket to win nothing,get your money back or win $10.00..Not a very good program and that's what you see most all the time around Elizabeth City.The NC Lottery is the worst thing that has ever happen to people.Never seen so many losing tickets in my life.Watch a guy buy 11 tickets yesterday and not $1 won. What a scam.People save your money you will be way a head of the game in the long run,Trust me I have done it.

10/07/2015 10:14 - marvin p.

brought a pack of 5 dollars and won 185thanks and i do have it under control when spending and buying tickets!! thanks for the reminder...... keep bringing the new games!! every month

10/07/2015 08:04 - ana r.

how come we cant see how many people add a bid it just gives you the bids we put in?NC Lottery
The Lucke-Zone is not set up to display the number of entries made, but if you would like to know for a particular drawing and ask a question here in the Lucke-Zone, we'll do our best to respond with that information.

10/07/2015 01:03 - ana r.

i have a question about the luke rewards second chance to win i put bids on the promotions but i want to know the time that they widraw the winners on the due date. the second question is what are the possibilities to win?NC Lottery
First question: The drawings happen at different times of day depending on staff availability to follow security procedures. Question two: The odds of winning in a Lucke-Rewards drawing depend on the number of entries made.

10/07/2015 08:19 - shironzo m.

Exactly!! Who really wants to break even!! Everyone is after life changing money if they play!! Yet u ncel guys say play for fun, sounds really stupid to me is my opinion!! There's no reason to play if u wanna win small money!! U can buy a deck of cards and do that!!

10/06/2015 10:26 - Charlotte R.

I will try it a few times, but then likely give up on it. I don't spend three dollars in hopes of winning my Money back. I'm very disappointed that the top prize is now even more difficult to win,

10/06/2015 07:24 - marvin p.

just a simple question my favorite lottery people can u tell me how much is a 30.00 20.00 and a 10.00 and 5.00 roll or a pack cost to purchase i would love to know exactly NC Lottery
A pack of $30 tickets costs $900; pack of $20 tickets, $600; and packs of $10 or $5 tickets, $300. Remember. It only takes one ticket to win.

10/06/2015 12:35 - Angela S.

sound like more cash for NC. Just because there is more prize money do not mean more winners and if there are,it will be the least amount they pay out like the all or nothing game. Thousands of 2 dollar winners and 1 of everything else. If the games were random you would not get as many $2 winners everytime this games is played...Not to mention scratch tickets.16 $10 in a roll not one winner. Shame on Nc lottery...New tickets are out .Lets just see where the first big winner is going to be.(We all know where already)

10/05/2015 10:46 - ADELAIDA S.

Still purchasing tickets at least $1.00 cash 5, every other day and also all or nothing...hopefully I will hit the big one...still crossing my fingers..good luck to all the winners and to myself too....

10/05/2015 10:13 - donald e.

sounds like more cash for me

10/05/2015 02:32 - Denver G.

I think more people would play if the multipliers were 2x,4x,6x,8x,& 10x. Except for the top three the payouts on all the rest seem pretty small, that is why most people have stopped playing PB. That's just my 2cents.

10/05/2015 07:56 - angela g.

I don't know about this, Good Luck to all that take a chance.

10/05/2015 07:37 - Charles D.

Lets see, first the quick pick increased from $1.00 to $2.00 and if the multiplier was choosen, the price increased from $2.00 to $3.00. Now, while the price stays the same, the odds of winning nearly doubles. why the change? Two reasons, to increase sales and to put more money in investors pockets. While someone evently will win sometime in the future, it will not be me.

10/05/2015 07:18 - EBONE P.

Awesome and exciting!!!! Winning!!!

10/05/2015 06:50 - Hiram l.

fabulous I like that

10/05/2015 02:05 - Rodney B.

Wow! I really like think I can win this time around..Go powerball!!

10/05/2015 01:59 - Shannon C.

Wow I that's cool.

10/05/2015 12:49 - Tracy S.

$$$hot..hot..hot$$$ big money time.

10/04/2015 11:57 - james m.

Is it true that even winning scratch offs,ie the $30 scratch off game for 10 million to some lucky winners,even those tickets that say pays $100.00 can still be entered in the second chance drawing,yes? What has happened is the place that I turned a $100.00 winning ticket into to collect the winnings subsequently tore the ticket in half before I could tell him I needed the ticket back because I had entered it in the second chance drawing ( for the million dollar prize 1 of 3 actually) I got both halves of the ticket,but what happens if my ticket number is drawn? Will it be disqualified because it was torn in half? I also have another question,and will all entered tickets for the second chance million be eligible for all 3 drawings? Or after the first drawing and neither of my second chance numbers won?----will those numbers still be eligible for the 2nd and 3rd second chance drawing for the million?NC Lottery
Please call customer service at 877-962-7529

10/04/2015 11:29 - Caroline S.

GREAT

10/04/2015 11:27 - corey c.

It would be nice!

10/04/2015 11:02 - Electa P.

This is a crock!!!!

10/04/2015 10:45 - Shanita S.

?? Singing and doing my happy dance

10/04/2015 09:44 - Herman S.

Hello NCEL/LEZ, are you promoting any Holiday Shopping Cash or TV/Play Station etc etc Viewing Package for the upcoming holiday season? It will be nice to see a holiday promotion in the form of gifts VS the existing cash promotions in progress.NC Lottery
We don't have word from the marketing folks yet on that, stay tuned...

10/04/2015 09:39 - Phyllis R.

Can I win on this go round

10/04/2015 08:12 - Steven R.

Sounds good! More chances to win something! Gotta like that!

10/04/2015 07:04 - Darrell s.

Awesome !

10/04/2015 06:51 - Terri S.

Good news

Win up to $1,000,000 every 4 minutes

Big Thrills Served Fast.

Progressive Jackpot Estimate

Changes to Powerball game start today

October 4, 2015 Posted by NC Lottery at 6:20 PM

Helpful Links

Get the Mobile App

No Longer Just a Game? There's Help