Powerball
Illinois joined Powerball in January 2010 and two jackpot winners have been crowned in The Prairie State since then. You can find out more about this multi-state lottery below, including how to play, the prizes that can be won and the odds of winning.
You can play Powerball twice a week. Draws are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays at approximately 21:59pm CST, and you can play online or visit any authorised ticket retailer in the state to pick your numbers. You have to be at least 18 years of age to enter in Illinois.
Next estimated jackpot for Wednesday is:
How to Play Powerball
To play, just pick five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. You can pick your own line, or use a Quick Pick to generate a random one. It costs $2 per line to enter, and the Power Play option is available for an additional $1. The Power Play can increase non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, or 10x their original value, depending on which number is selected before the main Powerball draw.
Follow the steps below to play Powerball online or at a retailer.
Playing Online
- Create an online account with the Illinois Lottery.
- Decide how many lines you want to play.
- Pick your own numbers, or opt for a Quick Pick.
- Choose whether to add the Power Play option to your ticket.
- Confirm how many consecutive draws you want to enter.
- Proceed to the checkout and confirm payment.
- Find out if you are a winner after the draw.
Playing at a Retailer
- Visit any lottery retailer in Illinois.
- Fill out a playslip, or ask for a Quick Pick.
- Decide whether to add the Power Play option.
- Select how many draws you want to enter.
- Check the winning numbers after the draw.
Prizes and Odds of Winning
There are nine prizes available in Powerball, starting from $4 for matching just the Powerball. The jackpot is won by matching all five main numbers and the Powerball. If there isn’t a jackpot winner in any given draw, the prize will roll over and increase in value for the next draw, and will continue to do so until it is won.
The odds of winning and the prize amounts in each tier are shown below:
| Numbers Matched | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | Jackpot |
| 5 | 1 in 11,688,053 | $1 million |
| 4 + Powerball | 1 in 913,129 | $50,000 |
| 4 | 1 in 36,525 | $100 |
| 3 + Powerball | 1 in 14,494 | $100 |
| 3 | 1 in 579 | $7 |
| 2 + Powerball | 1 in 701 | $7 |
| 1 + Powerball | 1 in 91 | $4 |
| 0 + Powerball | 1 in 38 | $4 |
Power Play Prizes
The Power Play can increase your prize by a multiplier ranging from 2x to 10x, based on a number selected before each Powerball draw. The 10x multiplier is only available when the advertised jackpot is worth $150 million or less, and the Match 5 prize can only increase to a maximum of $2 million regardless of the Power Play number selected.
The table below shows how much prizes can increase with Power Play:
| Numbers Matched | 2x | 3x | 4x | 5x | 10x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| 5 | $2 million | $2 million | $2 million | $2 million | $2 million |
| 4 + Powerball | $100,000 | $150,000 | $200,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| 4 | $200 | $300 | $400 | $500 | $1,000 |
| 3 + Powerball | $200 | $300 | $400 | $5000 | $1,000 |
| 3 | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $70 |
| 2 + Powerball | $7 | $14 | $21 | $28 | $70 |
| 1 + Powerball | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
| 0 + Powerball | $8 | $12 | $16 | $20 | $40 |
Claiming Prizes
In Illinois, you have one year from the date of a draw to come forward and claim your prize. Amounts worth up to $600 can be claimed from a lottery retailer or any Prize Claim Center in the state. You can also mail your winning ticket with a completed claim form and winner questionnaire to the Illinois Lottery at the following address:
Illinois Lottery
Claims Department
P.O. Box 19080
Springfield, IL
62784-9912
Prizes worth over $600 and under $1 million can be retrieved from a Prize Claim Center. If your prize is less than $25,000, payment will be arranged there and then, but if it is more than this it will be referred to the Illinois Lottery Claims Department. You must present proof of identification and your social security number when claiming your prize.
All Prize Claim Centers in Illinois are open from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30pm, except for holidays:
| Location | Address | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601 | 312/793-2385 |
| Des Plaines | Regional Office 1, 2, & 6, 9511 Harrison St, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016 | 847/294-4851 |
| Rockford | Regional Office 3, 200 S Wyman, Rockford, IL 61101 | 815/987-7018 |
| Fairview Heights | Illinois Lottery, Region 4, 15 Executive Drive, Suite 3, Fairview Heights, IL 62208 | 618/624-8670 |
| Springfield | Regional Office 5 & Lottery Central, Department of Revenue, Willard Ice Building, 101 West Jefferson Street Springfield, IL 62702 | 217/321-4751 |
Prizes over $1 million, including the jackpot, can only be collected from the Illinois Lottery Claims Department at the below address:
Illinois Lottery Claims Department
Department of Revenue
Willard Ice Building
101 West Jefferson Street Springfield
IL 62702
Prizes of up to $600 won online are automatically paid into your account, and winnings over $600 are handled by the lottery’s Claims Department. You will be sent an email with further information about how to proceed with the claim process for winnings exceeding $600.
You may have to reveal your name and city of residence depending on the prize amount. When you claim prizes worth over $250,000, you can request to keep this information confidential when you complete your claim form. However, this information may still be released if it is deemed to be in the public interest or in the event of a freedom of information request. Other personal details such as your home address and telephone number will always be kept private.
Tax and Good Causes
In Illinois, you must pay 24% in federal taxes for prizes exceeding $5000, whilst a state tax of 4.95% is also withheld. You should always consult a professional financial planner for tax advice and guidance.
Any profits generated from Powerball are allocated to the state’s Common School Fund, which helps fund public education in the area. The Illinois Lottery also supports causes such as the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure, the Illinois Veterans Assistance Fund, Red Ribbon Cash, MS Mission Move and Special Olympics.