Not many Powerball players really understand the Power Play option.
Because nobody explains it properly!
So let’s change that with a proper explanation of how it works.
How Does Power Play Work?
Power Play is an extra option when you play Powerball. You cannot play it on its own.
It costs $1 extra for each play and applies to all plays (or combinations) on your playslip. So normally a Powerball play costs you $2, but with Power Play it costs you $3. This turns a ticket that cost $10 into a $15 ticket.
If you then win a prize on Powerball the Power Play option can boost the size of that prize. You cannot ‘win’ Power Play itself.
What Are the Powerball Power Play Numbers?
The Powerball Power Play numbers are 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10.
The amount your prize is boosted is determined by the Power Play number. This is randomly drawn by the lottery company just like the main lottery numbers. It can be X2, X3, X4, X5 or X10.
The ‘X’ simply means ‘multiply by’ – so if X5 is drawn then your prize (if you win) is multiplied by 5.
Does Power Play Apply to the Jackpot?
No, Power Play does not apply to the jackpot prize.
It also does NOT multiply the Match 5 prize by the Power Play number. The Match 5 prize is boosted from $1 Million to $2 Million if you have the Power Play option, but never more than that.
When Is the 10X Multiplier Used?
The 10X multiplier is only used when the jackpot is less than $150 Million. So if the jackpot is larger then 10X is not even included in the draw to select the Power Play number.
Because there are a lot of rollover draws for Powerball the jackpot isn’t below $150 Million a lot of the time. Based on the last year, the 10X multiplier hasn’t even been included (so cannot be drawn) for 53% of Powerball draws.
See also: How Is the Powerball Lump Sum Calculated?
What Are the Powerball Power Play Odds?
The odds are slightly different depending on whether the 10X multiplier is in use (which is only used when the jackpot is less than $150 Million).
For the Power Play draw itself 2X is included 24 times, 3X is included 13 times, 4X is included 3 times and 5X is only included once. If 10X is being used then that also only appears just once.
So these are the odds if the 10X multiplier is in use:-
| Power Play Number | Power Play Odds |
|---|---|
| 2X | 24 in 43 |
| 3X | 13 in 43 |
| 4X | 3 in 43 |
| 5X | 2 in 43 |
| 10X | 1 in 43 |
If the 10X multiplier is NOT being used (because the jackpot is larger than $150 Million) then these are the odds:-
| Power Play Number | Power Play Odds |
|---|---|
| 2X | 24 in 42 |
| 3X | 13 in 42 |
| 4X | 3 in 42 |
| 5X | 1 in 42 |
Is Powerball Power Play Worth It?
Is it worth playing Power Play on Powerball? In my opinion, no it isn’t. And here’s why.
Power Play only does anything if you win something. It does nothing to improve your chances of winning Powerball in the first place. Which is the most important thing.
Let’s use a specific example. If you normally play $20 on Powerball that gets you 10 plays. If you choose the Power Play option this will now cost you $30. But what if you put that extra $10 into buying 5 extra plays on Powerball instead? That right there would improve your chances of winning by 50%.
And that’s why I say don’t do Power Play. Your odds of winning are far more important than the chance of a boost to smaller prizes.
Because remember: Power Play does not boost all prizes. The jackpot doesn’t count, the Match 5 is only ever doubled. And even then it’s most likely your prize will only be doubled – 10X very rarely happens (half the time it’s not even used, and even when it is the odds of it then happening are only 1 in 43)!
These add-on options are great for lottery company profits, but they are rarely good for us players. Understanding options like this and when they are good or bad choices is just one way you can maximize your chances of winning (which is what my Strategy Group is all about).
More Power Play Questions
To play Power Play you simply mark the option on your playslip. It then automatically applies to all plays on that ticket. There are no extra numbers or anything to pick.
Power Play costs $1 extra per play. That is, $1 extra for each combination on your playslip. If you are playing 5 plays, then it will cost you $15 instead of $10.
Yes you can win the Powerball jackpot without Power Play. In fact, Power Play has nothing to do with the jackpot – it only boost the value of smaller prizes if you win.
If your ticket says your have ‘Power Play’ this means you checked the option to add this on to your regular Powerball plays. It cost you $1 extra per play, and can boost the value of what you win.
The Power Play multiplier is the amount by which your prize will be multiplied, if you chose to pay for that extra option when you bought your ticket. So if the multiplier is 2X and you match 3 main numbers then you win $14 instead of $7. The multiplier can be as much as 10X but this very rarely happens.
Powerball is the main lottery game, where 5 balls plus the Powerball are drawn. Power Play is not a game in itself – it is only an add-on option that costs extra on top of the regular Powerball ticket price. You cannot win Power Play, it only increases the size of some Powerball prizes if you paid for that extra option and win on Powerball.
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