Lottery Software for North Carolina

What is Powerball?

Powerball is an exciting, multi-state, multimillion-dollar jackpot game with jackpots starting at $15 million and continuing to grow until won. There are nine (9) exciting ways to win with Powerball and it’s easy to get in the game!

How to Play

There are two great ways to play, a $1 Powerball ticket or a $2 Powerball ticket with Power Play™. The Power Play feature allows you the chance to MULTIPLY your non-jackpot winnings up to 5 times, depending on the Power Play number selected for that night’s draw. (This includes all prizes except the Jackpot.)

Selecting Your Numbers

Once you’ve chosen Powerball or Power Play™, picking your numbers is easy. You can complete a playslip with your favorite numbers or ask the retailer for “Quick Pick” and have the computer select any or all of your numbers for you! You can play a total of five (5) sets of numbers on one playslip. (See the playslip instructions below) You can also choose to play in future drawings by using the same playslip for up to 52 consecutive drawings. To play consecutive drawings, you need to either select the “Multi Draw” box on the playslip or, ask the retailer for multiple draws at the time of purchase. Be sure to check your numbers and verify your ticket cost prior to purchase. Exchange tickets are printed for players who win on a multi-draw ticket that still have active draws on the ticket.  A Powerball ticket CANNOT be cancelled by the retailer after it is generated. The ticket, and not the playslip, is your proof of purchase

How to Win

The jackpot prize is won by matching five white balls (1 through 55) in any order, plus one red Powerball number (1 through 42) for a total of six balls played. However, there are also eight (8) additional ways to win by matching fewer of your numbers to the numbers drawn. (See “9 Ways to Win” chart below)

What is the Match 5 Bonus Prize?

Whenever the Powerball jackpot reaches a record level, the amount of the jackpot prize is limited to increases for each draw of no more than $25 million. The prize money collected in excess of the maximum $25 million increase will be placed into the Match 5 Bonus prize pool and will accumulate until there is a jackpot winner. When there is a jackpot winner, the Match 5 Bonus prize pool will be divided equally among all winners of the Match 5 prize. The prize will be paid in one cash lump sum. The Match 5 Bonus prize is in addition to any Power Play prizes that may be won and is not multiplied. Although it is unlikely, it is possible that no Match 5 winner will exist for a drawing where the jackpot is won and in which a Match 5 Bonus Prize pool exists. In this case, the Match 5 Bonus prize pool will be paid out to the Match 4+1 winners.

How do I find out the winning numbers?

Watch the drawings every Wednesday and Saturday night on your areas official lottery drawing station to determine drawing results. You can also obtain winning number information or a copy of the game rules by calling NCEL's Player Services at 877-962-7529 or by visiting our winning numbers page.