Every Powerball play slip has a small box labeled Power Play. Tick it, pay $1 more per play, and your non-jackpot prizes are multiplied by a factor drawn just before the main numbers. Simple in principle, surprisingly nuanced in practice. Here is everything you need to decide whether to tick it.
How Power Play works
- You pay $3 per play instead of $2.
- Before each drawing, a Power Play multiplier is selected at random: 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and, when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less, 10x.
- Every prize you win except the jackpot is multiplied by that number, with one special rule for the Match 5 prize.
The multiplier applies to all of your plays on that ticket for that drawing; you cannot add it to some plays and not others.
The prize table with and without Power Play
| Match | Base prize | 2x | 3x | 4x | 5x | 10x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 5 white balls | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| 4 + Powerball | $50,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| 4 white balls | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 + Powerball | $100 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 white balls | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 2 + Powerball | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $35 | $70 |
| 1 + Powerball | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| Powerball only | $4 | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
Two rules stand out:
- The jackpot is never multiplied. Power Play only affects the eight lower tiers.
- Match 5 is always exactly $2 million with Power Play, regardless of the multiplier. It is a doubling, not a 10x.
How often each multiplier comes up
The multiplier is drawn from a pool of weighted balls. When the 10x is in play (jackpot of $150 million or less), the pool is 43 balls:
| Multiplier | Balls | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 2x | 24 | 55.8% |
| 3x | 13 | 30.2% |
| 4x | 3 | 7.0% |
| 5x | 2 | 4.7% |
| 10x | 1 | 2.3% |
When the jackpot is above $150 million, the 10x ball is removed and the pool is 42 balls: 2x at 57.1%, 3x at 31.0%, 4x at 7.1% and 5x at 4.8%.
So the average multiplier is about 2.8x with the 10x in the pool and about 2.6x without it (the rare 10x adds surprisingly little to the average because it is drawn so seldom).
The math: what the extra dollar buys
A Powerball play has an overall chance of winning some prize of about 1 in 24.87. The vast majority of those wins are the two $4 tiers (1 in 38.32 for Powerball only, 1 in 91.98 for 1 + Powerball). Here is what Power Play does to expected value, using an average multiplier of roughly 2.6x to 2.8x:
- Expected non-jackpot prize value of a $2 play: roughly $0.32.
- Expected non-jackpot prize value with Power Play: roughly $0.78 to $0.82, an increase of about $0.46 to $0.50.
- Cost of Power Play: $1.00.
On pure expected value, the extra dollar returns about half its cost, which is comparable to the base game itself (a $2 play returns roughly $0.32 in small prizes plus a slice of the jackpot that depends on its size). In other words, Power Play is neither a hidden bargain nor a rip-off; it is a second bet with a similar house edge to the first.
When Power Play makes more sense
When the jackpot is small. Two things happen at the same time: the 10x is available, and the jackpot's contribution to your expected value is at its lowest. A larger share of what you can realistically win comes from the lower tiers, which is exactly what Power Play boosts.
When you care about the $2 million second prize. Matching all five white balls is a 1 in 11,688,054 event. With Power Play it pays $2 million instead of $1 million, guaranteed. If your goal is "life-changing money without the jackpot," Power Play doubles that tier for $1.
When you play few tickets. If you buy one or two plays per drawing, an extra dollar or two is a small price for turning a $100 win into $200-$1,000.
When to skip it
When the jackpot is huge. During a $1 billion run, the jackpot dominates your expected value and Power Play cannot touch it. Many experienced players put the extra dollar into an additional play instead.
When you play many tickets. Power Play on 20 plays is $20 per drawing, every drawing. That adds up quickly and buys only multiplied small prizes.
When your budget is fixed. The best use of a fixed lottery budget is more distinct plays, not multiplied plays. Ten $2 plays give you ten shots at every tier; six $3 plays give you six.
Power Play vs. Double Play
Do not confuse Power Play with Double Play, a separate $1 add-on available in some states. Double Play enters your numbers into a second drawing with its own $10 million top prize and its own prize table. Power Play multiplies prizes from the main drawing; Double Play gives you a second drawing. You can add both, for $4 per play in total.
How this fits with our plays
Every play we generate, whether from a $0.99 single or a Legend subscription, is a standard set of five white balls plus one Powerball. Power Play and Double Play are options you choose at the retailer or in your state's app; they do not change the numbers and our engines do not need to know about them. If you use our plays and add Power Play, the structural advantages (a typical, distinctive combination) and the Power Play advantages (multiplied lower-tier prizes) stack.
Check the current jackpot and whether the 10x is in play on our Powerball predictions page, then decide.
Frequently asked questions
Does Power Play multiply the jackpot?
No. The jackpot is never multiplied. All eight other tiers are.
How much does Power Play cost?
$1 per play, on top of the $2 base price, so $3 per play.
When is the 10x multiplier available?
Only when the advertised jackpot is $150 million or less.
Does Power Play change my odds of winning?
No. It changes the size of non-jackpot prizes, not the probability of winning them.
Powerball is a game of chance. Set a budget, stick to it, and if you need help call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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