2015 Press Releases

September 29, 2015

 

Powerball® Redesign: Better Overall Odds of Winning a Prize, 10X Feature Added When Starting Jackpots Are Lower

Changes Should Continue to Deliver Big Jackpots, Bump Up Other Significant Prizes

(DOVER, DE) — An updated version of the Powerball game will debut on Sunday, Oct. 4, with changes designed to continue to deliver big jackpots while upping some other significant prizes in the game.

Plays will still cost $2 each, and there will be better overall odds of winning any prize, a big jump up to $50,000 for the game’s third prize level, and a chance for players to multiply most winnings by up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.

“Powerball has been revamped several times in its 23-year history to continue to deliver the big jackpots people expect from the game, but also give players the chance to win other significant prizes,” said Vernon Kirk, Director of the Delaware Lottery. “Our latest changes are designed to continue that trend and build in several new features.”

Since getting its start in April 1992 in 15 states with jackpots that started at a guaranteed $2 million, Powerball has grown into one of the world’s biggest and most recognizable lottery games. Today it’s sold by 47 lotteries across the nation, with players buying more than $4 billion in Powerball tickets each year. The biggest jackpot in the game to date was a $590.5 million prize won by a Florida woman in May 2013.

With the game’s success comes demand for innovation to keep things fresh. Kirk said that the latest changes are the eighth revamp of the game.

“Players have told us they’d like to see new features in Powerball, and we needed a redesign to make that possible,” he said.

The first drawing with the new features will be on Wednesday, Oct. 7. There will be changes to both sets of numbers that players use. Players will 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.

Powerball jackpots will continue to start at $40 million and the game’s second prize for matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball will still be $1 million. The game’s third prize level is getting a five-fold increase from $10,000 to $50,000 for matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball.

The game’s Power Play® option also will get a big expansion with a 10X feature when jackpots in the game are at lower levels. Currently, players can multiply many prizes by up to five times by adding the Power Play option to their purchase 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.

“The 10X feature in the Power Play has been used in short-term promotions in the past and players have always liked it, so we’re keeping it as an enhancement to the game,” Kirk said.

Starting Oct. 7, the Power Play numbers available will be 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X and 10X when the jackpot is $150 million or less. Only the first four multipliers will be in play when the jackpot is higher than that.

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

About the Delaware Lottery:
Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than $4.1 billion to the state's General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL®, MEGA MILLIONS®, HOT LOTTO®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, DELAWARE CASH 5®, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, KENO®, iGaming and assorted Instant Games, Video Lottery, Sports Lottery and Table Games. Delaware Lottery game and promotional details are available at delottery.com, at licensed locations, and from the Lottery's office in Dover.

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