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The Powerball jackpot is currently [jackpot amount]. The Michigan Lottery makes it easy to play. Simply sign up using our link, then purchase your Powerball entries online.
Below, we’ll cover how to play and define common terms so you can get started with confidence.
Powerball has three weekly drawings. They occur on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 11 p.m. ET.
To play, you pick six numbers. Five of those are white ball numbers between 1 and 69, while the final number is a red Powerball between 1 and 26.
When the drawing happens, it will reveal five white balls and one Powerball. If all of your numbers match, you win the jackpot. If a few numbers match, you could win a smaller prize.
Powerball may be easy to play, but there are various terms attached to the game that new players might not be familiar with. We’re here to help with that. Below, find some of the most commonly used Powerball terms and what they mean.
In lottery draw games, a “line” is one entry or ticket. In essence, all three of those terms can be used interchangeably. A line consists of five white ball numbers and a red Powerball. One line (or entry) costs $2. Players are allowed to purchase multiple lines with different numbers.
Power Play is a side option for Powerball. If you select it, each line will cost an additional $1. With Power Play, any non-jackpot prize you win will be multiplied by up to 5x.
Double Play is another add-on option for Powerball players. It enters your numbers into a second-chance drawing that occurs 30-45 minutes after the main drawing. The top prize for Double Play is $10 million. It is only available via in-store Powerball purchases.
Jackpot is the term for the maximum prize in a Powerball drawing. There are many other prizes for matching some, but not all numbers. These are called non-jackpot prizes.
Shared jackpot is the term used when multiple tickets match all six numbers. The jackpot amount is split among all the winners. In 2016, three players from different states (Florida, California, and Tennessee) each won the jackpot and split a $1.586 billion prize.
If you’re lucky enough to win the jackpot, you can collect your prize as a cash option. This means you’d get the winnings as a single lump-sum payment. The amount you get is about half of the advertised jackpot, and it’s pre-tax.
Annuity is the other option for collecting your prize if you win the jackpot. The annuity is paid out over the course of 30 years with 5% increases each year.
Play slips are how you can play the Powerball at a retail location. When you play online, you enter by selecting your numbers via the mobile app or website. At a retail lottery vendor, you fill out a play slip with your numbers, then run it through a machine or return it to the cashier. You then get a piece of paper with your numbers on it, and that is your ticket.
“Hot” numbers are selections that have come up in many drawings recently. “Cold” numbers are numbers that haven’t been drawn in a while.
In reality, these terms mean nothing because every drawing has the same odds of pulling a given number. We recommend you avoid making selections based on which numbers are hot or cold.
Easy Pick is an online Powerball purchase option. It comes in three tiers:
- 3 tickets for $6
- 5 tickets for $10
- 10 tickets for $20
When you select Easy Pick, the computer will select your numbers at random. It’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to purchase Powerball tickets.
We have a dedicated Michigan Lottery results page that’s frequently updated with the latest Powerball and Mega Millions results.
Additionally, the Michigan Lottery webpage has various tools for checking recent results. If you purchase tickets online, you’ll get notifications and/or emails if you win, depending on your in-app settings.
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.
