The Powerball game is about to get bigger!

Starting with the October 7, 2015 drawing, Powerball players will see changes that include bigger jackpots, an increase in the third place prize to $50,000, and better odds of winning any prize—all for the same $2 players now pay.

“These improvements will allow for even bigger jackpots and better odds of winning – both of which will create more New York Lottery millionaires,” said Gardner Gurney, Acting Director of the Division of the Lottery. “Also players will be able to purchase Powerball tickets for an additional hour up until 10:00 p.m. on the evening of a drawing.”

Players will notice changes to both sets of numbers used. Players may choose their first five numbers from a set of 69 (currently 59) white balls and their Powerball from a pool of 26 (currently 35) red balls. The end result will be better overall odds of winning any prize with extended odds of winning the jackpot. Tickets reflecting the changes will go on sale October 4.

The game’s Power Play option also will get a big expansion with a 10X feature. Currently, players can multiply many prizes by up to five times by adding the Power Play option for an extra $1 per play. Under the new design, the Power Play option will be expanded to multiply most prizes (except the jackpot and Match 5 level) by up to 10 times whenever the game’s advertised annuitized jackpot is $150 million or less. The Match 5 prize of $1 million will continue to double to $2 million with the Power Play added.

Under the new matrix, the odds of hitting the jackpot will be 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball is currently played in 44 participating states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Profits from every Powerball ticket sold remain in the state in which the ticket was sold.

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.11 billion in fiscal year 2014-2015 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 14 percent of total state education aid to local school districts. 

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education.  It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.