Powerball is an American lottery game sold by 45 lotteries as a shared jackpot game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a non-profit organization formed by an agreement with various U.S. lotteries. Since the format change on January 15, 2012, Powerball’s minimum advertised jackpot is $40 million (annuity) with a potential of nine-figure prizes. Its annuity option is paid in 30 graduated installments; winners may choose a cash payment instead. Powerball drawings are held on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The game uses a 5/59 (white balls) + 1/35 (Powerballs) matrix from which winning numbers are chosen. Each play costs $2, or, with the Power Play option, $3 (prior to January 15, 2012, games cost $1 each, or $2 with Power Play; the latter option was added in 2001). The official cutoff time for ticket sales is 10 p.m. Eastern Time; some lotteries discontinue sales at earlier times. The drawings usually are held at the Florida Lotteryâs studio in Tallahassee.
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