The Powerball was once named the "Lotto America", the name changed on June 8, 1999 as well as how the game was played.
Now to play this game, you only need $1.
With this payment, you get a ticket and five picks from numbers 1 - 55, plus the Powerball number which you get to pick from numbers 1 - 42.
The payouts for this game are great if you can get a couple numbers plus the Powerball but the odds are immense.
Below you will see the odds for winning at this game.
The odds increase as the amount of numbers you picked accurately increase.
The odds are lower for winning the Powerball but the payout increases with the amount of numbers you get plus the Powerball.
The odds for winning the Powerball singly are 1 in 68.
96 and the payout is just $3.
For winning the Powerball and one number your chances are 126.
88 with a payout of $4.
For winning the Powerball with 2 numbers your chances are 1 745.
45.
And the odds increase as well as the payout from here on.
To win four numbers plus the Powerball the odds are 1 in 584431.
85, without the Powerball it would be 1 in 14254.
44.
If you get all 5 numbers without the Powerball, the payout is a whopping $200,000 but the odds are 1 in 3563608.
83.
To get the jackpot you would have to match all 5 numbers and the power ball, for this the odds are 1 in 14,610796.