Powerball jackpot at $236 million: Buy your tickets today

The Powerball is a multi-state draw game with a jackpot that steadily rises until it is finally awarded to the lucky player(s) who wins it. Michigan players can get in on the Powerball action online or at a retailer.

Right now, the Powerball jackpot is at $236 million. The next drawing is tonight at 11 p.m. ET. You can buy tickets up to 15 minutes before the drawing.

When you play Powerball, you just need to pick a handful of numbers. Namely, five white ball numbers between 1 and 69 (no repeats) and one red Powerball number between 1 and 26. Selecting your six numbers constitutes a “line,” or one entry, and you can purchase many lines at once.

Each line costs $2. For an extra $1 per line, you can add Power Play to your tickets. If you select Power Play and win a non-jackpot prize, it will be multiplied by 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x depending on the Power Play ball that is drawn.

You can also purchase one ticket for multiple drawings. For example, you could buy one line (for $2) but apply it to the next 5 drawings, which would bring the cost to $10 total.

If one of your lines matches all five white balls and the Powerball, you win the jackpot. Matching fewer numbers awards commensurately smaller prizes.

Michigan has become a veritable online gambling hub, with online casinos, sportsbooks, and an online lottery. This means anyone who lives in the state who is 18 or older can enjoy online lottery games. Powerball is available from the Michigan Lottery online.

To get started, click our link and begin the sign-up process. The first thing you’ll need to do is enter your email and create a password. After that, you have to verify your email by entering a code that Michigan Lottery will send to your inbox. Next, you’ll provide some personal details to confirm your age and identity, including:

• First and last name
• Date of birth
• Phone number
• Address
• Last 4 digits of your Social Security Number

It also helps to have a driver’s license or state ID handy.

From there, you’ll be all set. You can add a deposit method (PayPal is our top recommended payment provider), add funds to your account, and play Powerball.

We recommend signing up sooner rather than later, especially if you want to get in on a drawing. The sign-up steps can take a few minutes, so it helps to have your account ready well before the drawing occurs.

When you play Powerball online, you can use the Easy Pick feature, which randomly selects your numbers. You can also select numbers manually or have the system combine a handful of your favorite numbers.

The Michigan Lottery has hundreds of partnered retailers, including grocery stores and gas stations. You can purchase tickets at any of these locations; be sure to bring your ID with you.

As the cashier for a play slip or find one near the lottery machine. Fill out your desired lines, then return them to the register. They’ll print out your ticket and you’re all set!

If you win, sign your winning ticket immediately. We also encourage you to keep it in a safe place until you can claim your prize.

Playing Powerball online has its advantages. For example, you can check your tickets within the Michigan Lottery app, and it will tell you if you’ve won.

The Michigan Lottery website has a number tools page that lets you peruse previous winning numbers, including the most recent drawings. Alternatively, you can type in your exact numbers to see if they’re winners.

Ready to play Powerball? Here are a few tips and tricks.

Avoid anything that tells you which numbers are “hot” or “cold.” The reality is that the odds of a given number coming up are the same in every drawing.

Next, have fun! Powerball is a game, and it is made to be an enjoyable experience. Personally, I like to make things interesting when I pick my numbers. I’ll text six friends and have them each pick a digit, or I’ll flip through the pages of my books to find numbers that call out to me. No need to take things too seriously.

Finally, play responsibly. The Lottery never guarantees wins. If it stops being fun, stop playing and take a break.

Sidelines Group provides MLive with original sports betting, lottery and casino content including odds, analysis, predictions and reviews to educate bettors. Please bet responsibly.

If you have a gambling problem and are located in Michigan, call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-270-7117 or you can visit the Michigan Gaming Control Board’s website at https://www.michigan.gov/mgcb.