Pennsylvania Code
Title 61 - REVENUE
Part V - State Lotteries
Chapter 871 - POWERBALL
Appendix B - Chapter 871. PowerBall-Version in effect on August 28, 2005, incorporating changes from October 6, 2002
Section 871.22 - Changes to Powerball

Universal Citation: 61 PA Code ยง 871.22

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024

Any change to the Powerball regulations, announced by the Secretary by way of a notice published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, will be codified as a new paragraph in this section.

(1) Changes effective for Powerball tickets sold on or after October 6, 2002:

(i) Section 871.2(a) and (b) (relating to game description and purpose); § 871.3 (relating to definitions) definition of "basic play," "first set numbers," "panel or game panel," "quick pick," "ticket" and "winning numbers;" § 871.7(c) (relating to time, place and manner of conducting drawing). Powerball is a five out of 53 plus one out of 42 on-line game. The first set of numbers are selected from 1 through 53.

(ii) Section 871.9(e) (relating to Powerball prize payments). All annuitized prizes shall be paid in 30 annual payments with the initial payment being made in cash, to be followed by 29 equal annual payments funded by the annuity. The initial payment of an annuitized prize may be made by the Lottery upon validation of the winning ticket.

(iii) Section 871.15 (relating to unclaimed prize money). Unclaimed grand prize and new bonus prize funds will be distributed among all MUSL Lotteries in proportion to each lottery's sales for the grand prize drawing.

(iv) Section 871.19 (relating to probability of winning). The probability of winning is as follows:

Tickets Containing The Following, In One Single Lettered Game Section

Prize Category

Probability of Winning per Play

Five first set numbers and the Powerball number

Grand Prize

1:120,526,770

Five first set numbers

Second Prize

1:2,939,677.317073

Four first set numbers and the Powerball number

Third Prize

1:502,194.875000

Four first set numbers

Fourth Prize

1:12,248.655488

Three first set numbers and the Powerball number

Fifth Prize

1:10,684.997340

Three first set numbers

Sixth Prize

1:260.609691

Two first set numbers and the Powerball number

Seventh Prize

1:696.847653

One first set number and the Powerball number

Eighth Prize

1:123.884027

The Powerball number

Ninth Prize

1:70.388652

(v) Section 871.20(a), (c), (j) and (l) (relating to power play promotion). A player may purchase the power play option for the chance to multiply set prizes won as a result of the Powerball drawing by a number ranging from 2 to 5. The power play number will be selected from among the following series of numbers: 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5 and 5. Except as otherwise provided, all power play set prizes shall be paid in single, lump-sum payments determined by multiplying the Powerball set prize by the number selected in the power play drawing as follows:

Prize Level

Powerball Set Prize Amount

Power Play Multiplier and Set Prize Amount

5

4

3

2

Second Prize

$100,000

$500,000

$400,000

$300,000

$200,000

Third Prize

$5,000

$25,000

$20,000

$15,000

$10,000

Fourth Prize

$100

$500

$400

$300

$200

Fifth Prize

$100

$500

$400

$300

$200

Sixth Prize

$7

$35

$28

$21

$14

Seventh Prize

$7

$35

$28

$21

$14

Eighth Prize

$4

$20

$16

$12

$8

Ninth Prize

$3

$15

$12

$9

$6

The odds of various power play numbers being selected in a power play drawing are:

Power Play

Multiplier Odds

2

1:5

3

1:5

4

1:5

5

1:2.5

(vi) New bonus prize.
(a) When the Powerball jackpot is projected to reach a new high annuitized level, the amount of the jackpot prize will be limited, by rule, to increases for each draw of no more than $25 million (annuitized). The prize money collected in excess of the advertised jackpot amount, if any, will be placed into a bonus prize pool and will accumulate until there is a grand prize winner. When there is a grand prize winner, the bonus prize pool will be divided equally among all winners of the second prize. This bonus prize will be paid in one cash lump sum. If there are no second prize winners, the prize pool shall be divided equally among the winners in the next lower prize tier with winners.

(b) There may be times when the second prize will be increased from its current set amount of $100,000 to a higher amount. In those cases, the second prize may be increased to $1 million or more. The actual amount of the prize will depend upon the cash available in the new bonus prize pool and the number of prize winners as set forth in clause (A). The trigger jackpot level will naturally increase over time as the new high annuitized jackpot amount continues to climb.

(c) The new bonus prize is in addition to any power play prizes that may be won. The new bonus prize is awarded independent of the power play option, and is not multiplied by the power play multiplier. A bonus prize winner who also played the power play option will win the original set prize amounts; the amount paid under the power play multiplier option; and the new bonus prize (if effective).

(2) Changes effective for Powerball tickets sold on or after August 28, 2005:

(i) Section 871.2(a) and (b); § 871.3 definition of "basic play," "first set numbers," "panel or game," "quick pick," "ticket" and "winning number"; § 871.7(c). Powerball is a five out of 55 plus one out of 42 on-line game. The first set of numbers are selected from 1 through 55.

(ii) Section 871.9(e). Annuitized prizes shall be paid in 30 graduated payments, an initial followed by 29 annual graduated payments increasing each year at a rate determined by the MUSL Powerball Product Group. This rate, once determined, will not change over the life of the payments. The 30 payments will equal 100% of the annuitized prize. Prize payments may be rounded down to the nearest $1,000.

For example:

If the MUSL Powerball Product Group arrived at a 4% rate of increase for a $30 million annuitized jackpot the payment schedule would be as follows:

Payment No.

Graduated Payments (Rounded)

% of Total Annuity Prize

1

$535,000

1.78300991336613%

2

$556,000

1.85433030990078%

3

$578,000

1.92850352229681%

4

$601,000

2.00564366318868%

5

$626,000

2.08586940971623%

6

$651,000

2.16930418610488%

7

$677,000

2.25607635354907%

8

$704,000

2.34631940769104%

9

$732,000

2.44017218399868%

10

$761,000

2.53777907135862%

11

$792,000

2.63929023421297%

12

$823,000

2.74486184358149%

13

$856,000

2.85465631732475%

14

$891,000

2.96884257001774%

15

$926,000

3.08759627281845%

16

$963,000

3.21110012373119%

17

$1,002,000

3.33954412868043%

18

$1,042,000

3.47312589382765%

19

$1,084,000

3.61205092958076%

20

$1,127,000

3.75653296676399%

21

$1,172,000

3.90679428543455%

22

$1,219,000

4.06306605685193%

23

$1,268,000

4.22558869912601%

24

$1,319,000

4.39461224709105%

25

$1,371,000

4.57039673697469%

26

$1,426,000

4.75321260645368%

27

$1,483,000

4.94334111071182%

28

$1,543,000

5.14107475514030%

29

$1,604,000

5.34671774534591%

30

$1,668,000

5.56058645515974%

Payment Total

$30,000,000

(iii) Section 871.8(a) (relating to expected prize payout percentages). Determination of expected prize payout percentages is as follows:

Tickets Containing The Following, In One Single Lettered Game Section

Prize Category

Prize Payment

Approximate Percentage of Winnings Pool Allocated to Prize Category**

Five first set numbers and the Powerball number

Grand Prize

Grand Prize

60.5770%

Five first set numbers

Second Prize*

$200,000

11.2246%

Four first set numbers and the Powerball number

Third Prize*

$10,000

3.4222%

Four first set numbers

Fourth Prize*

$100

1.4030%

Three first set numbers and the Powerball number

Fifth Prize*

$100

1.6768%

Three first set numbers

Sixth Prize*

$7

4.8126%

Two first set numbers and the Powerball number

Seventh Prize*

$7

1.8780%

One first set number and the Powerball number

Eighth Prize*

$4

6.3050%

The Powerball number

Ninth Prize*

$3

8.7008%

* Indicates a set prize.
** Fifty percent of Powerball gross sales are allocated to the winnings pool for the payment of prizes.

(iv) Section 871.19. The probability of winning is as follows:

Tickets Containing The Following In One Single Lettered Game Section

Prize Category

Probability of Winnings per Play

Five first set numbers and the Powerball number

Grand Prize

1:146,107,962

Five first set numbers

Second Prize

1:3,563,608.8293

Four first set numbers and the Powerball number

Third Prize

1:584,431.8480

Four first set numbers

Fourth Prize

1:14,254.4353

Three first set numbers and the Powerball number

Fifth Prize

1:11,927.1806

Three first set numbers

Sixth Prize

1:290.9068

Two first set numbers and the Powerball number

Seventh Prize

1:745.4488

One first set number and the Powerball number

Eighth Prize

1:126.8849

The Powerball number

Ninth Prize

1:68.9592

(v) Section 871.20(a), (c), (j) and (l). A player may purchase the power play option for the chance to multiply set prizes won as a result of the Powerball drawing by a number ranging from 2 to 5. The power play number will be selected from among the following series of numbers: 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5 and 5. Except as otherwise provided, power play set prizes shall be paid in single, lump-sum payments determined by multiplying the Powerball set prize by the number selected in the power play drawing as follows:

Prize Level

Powerball Set Prize Amount

Power Play Multiplier and Set Prize Amount

5

4

3

2

Second Prize

$200,000

$1,000,000

$800,000

$600,000

$400,000

Third Prize

$ 10,000

$ 50,000

$ 40,000

$ 30,000

$ 20,000

Fourth Prize

$ 100

$ 500

$ 400

$ 300

$ 200

Fifth Prize

$ 100

$ 500

$ 400

$ 300

$ 200

Sixth Prize

$ 7

$ 35

$ 28

$ 21

$ 14

Seventh Prize

$ 7

$ 35

$ 28

$ 21

$ 14

Eighth Prize

$ 4

$ 20

$ 16

$ 12

$ 8

Ninth Prize

$ 3

$ 15

$ 12

$ 9

$ 6

The odds of various power play numbers being selected in a power play drawing are:

Power Play Multiplier

Odds

2

1:4

3

1:4

4

1:4

5

1:4

This section cited in 61 Pa. Code § 871.21 (relating to future changes to Powerball).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Pennsylvania may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.