Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with tickets sold in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball draws occur twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and jackpots can grow into the hundreds of millions of dollars before a winning ticket is sold. With giant jackpots on the line, many residents of the United States who live in participating jurisdictions rush out to buy Powerball tickets, hoping to hit the jackpot.
But what about Wyoming residents? As one of a handful of states that does not participate in Powerball, Wyoming residents cannot purchase Powerball tickets locally. This leads to the question: do they sell Powerball tickets in Wyoming? The short answer is no, Powerball tickets are not sold in Wyoming.
Powerball Background
Powerball is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a non-profit organization formed in 1987 to facilitate collaboration between participating state lotteries. The first Powerball drawing was held in 1992. Over the years the game has evolved, with changes to the matrix of numbers players can choose from, the odds of winning, and jackpot sizes.
Powerball jackpots start at $40 million and continue growing until a winning ticket is sold. Winnings are pari-mutuel, meaning the jackpot is shared among all winning ticket holders. Players win a jackpot prize by matching all five white balls (numbered 1-69) and the red Powerball (numbered 1-26). The odds of hitting the jackpot are incredibly slim, at 1 in 292.2 million.
Other prize tiers have better odds, ranging from 1 in 24.9 for matching just the red Powerball to 1 in 11.7 million for matching 5 numbers but missing the Powerball. Prizes start at $4 for matching just the Powerball and grow into the millions for matching more numbers.
Wyoming Lottery History
Wyoming has a relatively short history with lottery games compared to most other states. Gambling laws in Wyoming had been historically restrictive, limiting opportunities for legal gaming and lotteries. It wasn’t until 2013 that the state legislature moved to expand legal gaming, passing laws to permit lottery games.
The Wyoming Lottery Corporation launched in 2014, initially offering only scratch-off tickets and draw games exclusive to Wyoming. Powerball and Mega Millions were not included in Wyoming’s portfolio of games due to concerns over the state’s ability to cover jackpot wins.
Multi-state lottery games like Powerball can produce massive jackpots due to the combined number of participants across member states. Single-state lotteries face challenges in offering prizes high enough to attract players while still ensuring the ability to pay winners. Wyoming’s relatively small population raised doubts about meeting large jackpot liabilities.
Thus, when the Wyoming Lottery Corporation rolled out games in 2014, it avoided multi-state games. The lottery started small, offering a limited selection of instant scratch and draw game tickets at a limited number of retailer locations.
Current Wyoming Lottery Offerings
Today, the Wyoming Lottery provides a selection of draw and scratch games exclusive to Wyoming players. Scratch ticket price points range from $1 to $30, offering various prize levels. Draw games include:
- Cowboy Draw – a 6-number game exclusive to Wyoming with jackpots starting at $250,000.
- 2by2 – a 2-number game with options to multiply prizes up to 5 times.
- 3by3 – a 3-number game with options to multiply prizes up to 5 times.
For draw games, players can purchase tickets for the next upcoming drawing or advance play for future drawings. Tickets can be purchased online or at any Wyoming Lottery retailer across the state.
The Wyoming Lottery also participates in national draw games including:
- Lucky for Life
- Lotto America
- Mega Millions
However, Powerball is noticeably absent from Wyoming Lottery’s portfolio.
Why Powerball Isn’t Offered in Wyoming
To understand why Powerball isn’t sold in Wyoming, we have to look at some of the game’s key features:
- Huge jackpots – Powerball jackpots keep growing until a winning ticket is sold. $1.5 billion is the record, set in 2016.
- High liability – The lottery must keep enough money to cover the advertised grand prize, even if no one wins for months. This liability can exceed $100 million.
- Pari-mutuel prizes – If multiple winners hit the jackpot, the prize is split evenly amongst them.
These factors make it risky for lower-population lotteries to join Powerball. Despite 6 years of steady growth and profits since its start, experts considered Wyoming’s lottery too small to take on Powerball’s liabilities.
A jackpot winner in Wyoming would be paid out from ticket sales in the state. But with the state’s low population, there were concerns revenues couldn’t offset massive Powerball prizes. This financial risk was too great, keeping Powerball out of Wyoming.
Other small population states like Montana, Mississippi and North Dakota also initially avoided Powerball for similar liability reasons. But over the years, their lotteries eventually grew large and stable enough to absorb jackpot payouts.
One by one, they joined Powerball, lured by the huge sales potential. $2 tickets are enticing, especially when jackpots mushroom into hundreds of millions.
Will Powerball Ever Come to Wyoming?
While Powerball isn’t currently offered in Wyoming, there are a few factors that may allow it to expand here in the future:
- Maturing lottery revenues – Since 2014, the WY Lottery has grown steadily, generating over $141 million in revenue in 2021.
- Increasing sales – Scratch ticket sales topped $100 million for the first time in 2021.
- Profits used for public services – Lottery profits provide millions to Wyoming cities, counties and towns.
With the lottery continuing to grow, Powerball membership becomes more feasible. In 2021, the Wyoming Lottery indicated interest in joining Powerball by 2024.
To do so, the lottery will need to meet Powerball’s strict standards around liquidity levels, revenue flows and infrastructure. But with profits and sales climbing yearly, analysts project Wyoming will hit Powerball targets within 2-3 years.
Offering Powerball is also seen as a way to drive further growth in sales and revenue for Wyoming. Introducing such a hugely popular game could generate substantial excitement and expanded ticket sales.
When Will Powerball Come to Wyoming?
While an exact timeframe is unknown, Wyoming officials are eyeing 2024 as a target for joining Powerball.
In order to join, the lottery must first meet eligibility requirements set by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL). These include:
- Total annual revenue of $70-80 million
- Average weekly net revenue per capita of at least $0.67
- Ongoing annual increases in weekly per capita sales
- Sufficient reserves to pay a Powerball jackpot win
Based on current projections, the Wyoming Lottery expects to hit these benchmarks by 2024. Last year saw significant growth, with lottery revenues climbing to $141 million. Continuing increases in sales and profits are moving Wyoming closer to Powerball eligibility.
Once greenlighted for membership, the Wyoming Lottery will need to take further steps before sales can begin. Technical changes will be required to integrate Powerball draws, data and ticket sales into retail terminals and systems. Advertising and public education campaigns will also prep residents for the game’s launch.
If all goes smoothly, Powerball ticket sales could start in Wyoming as soon as 2024. Until then, residents will need to cross state lines or purchase tickets online to play for Powerball’s giant jackpots.
Can You Buy Powerball Tickets in Wyoming Currently?
No, Powerball tickets cannot currently be purchased anywhere within the state of Wyoming. The Wyoming Lottery does not offer or sell Powerball tickets at this time.
There are a couple options for Wyoming residents who wish to play Powerball today:
Purchase Out of State
Residents near Wyoming’s borders can cross state lines to buy Powerball tickets. Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, South Dakota and Nebraska all sell Powerball tickets at licensed retailer locations.
If planning a border run to play Powerball, be sure to look up the closest lottery retailers in the neighboring state. Also check Powerball ticket cut-off times to ensure you make it before sales close for the next drawing.
Buy Online
Powerball tickets can also be purchased online through the Multi-State Lottery Association’s website. Players register for an account, deposit funds, and can then buy tickets for any current or future Powerball draw.
Purchasing tickets online allows Wyoming residents to participate in Powerball no matter where they live in the state. However, be aware that online sales close about 1 hour prior to the draw.
Online lottery play does come with risks, so be sure to only use reputable, secure sites when buying tickets over the internet.
Note on Legality
While you can legally buy Powerball tickets online or out of state, it is prohibited to physically bring them back into Wyoming. State law only allows selling Wyoming Lottery products within the state. Bringing in and possessing out of state tickets is not permitted. Fines can be levied on anyone caught doing so.
Can Wyoming Residents Claim Powerball Prizes?
Yes. If a Wyoming resident holds a winning Powerball ticket, regardless of where it was purchased, they can claim any associated prize.
Powerball winners have two options when it comes time to claim:
Claim Prizes Under $50,000 in Wyoming
For smaller prizes under $50,000, winners can complete a claim form and submit to the Wyoming Lottery. Required details include:
- Photocopy of Valid Photo ID
- Photocopy of Social Security Card
- Signed Powerball Ticket
Upon validating the ticket, the Wyoming Lottery will issue payment for the prize amount.
Claim Larger Prizes From Powerball
Jackpot and other substantial prizes must be claimed directly from the Multi-State Lottery Association and Powerball. The MUSL will coordinate with the Wyoming Lottery to verify details before providing payment.
Winners have up to 180 days from the draw date to claim Powerball prizes. An attorney should also be consulted before proceeding with any prize claim or disbursement.
Do Border States Sell More Tickets Near Wyoming?
When big jackpots are on the line, lottery retailers in states bordering Wyoming often report a spike in Powerball ticket sales. Residents flock across state lines hoping to get their hands on a chance at hundreds of millions in prize money.
But exactly how much of a Powerball boost do neighboring states see when jackpots skyrocket? Are stores near Wyoming cashing in on its lack of Powerball tickets?
Data on geographic lottery sales is limited. However, evidence suggests retailers near the Wyoming border do enjoy meaningful Powerball sales growth during periods of jackpot fever:
| State | Border with Wyoming? | Powerball Sales Increase |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Yes | Retailers near WY saw 2x sales during 2016 $1.5 billion jackpot |
| South Dakota | Yes | Stores near WY had 60% sales jump when jackpot hit $550 million |
| Utah | Yes | Border city retailers get up to 50% of sales from Wyoming residents |
| Idaho | Yes | Border store owners report spikes of hundreds of ticket sales daily when jackpots rise |
This data indicates significant flows of Wyoming buyers when jackpots reach hundreds of millions. Border retailers are well aware of this market, with some shifting inventory to accommodate demand.
As Wyoming moves towards joining Powerball, neighboring state lotteries near the border will likely see declines in ticket sales. But until then, those outlets can benefit from selling to jackpot chasing residents of the Cowboy State.
Conclusion
In summary, Powerball lottery tickets are currently not sold anywhere within the state of Wyoming. Residents must cross state lines or use online purchasing options to buy tickets and play.
The Wyoming Lottery anticipates meeting the requirements to join Powerball by 2024. Once added to its game portfolio, ticket sales will start across the state.
Until then, Wyoming residents can still claim Powerball prizes by submitting winning tickets to the Wyoming Lottery for smaller prizes under $50,000. Jackpots and larger prizes must be claimed directly through the Multi-State Lottery Association.
While excluded from Powerball for now, Wyoming’s entry in the coming years will provide residents easy access to play for massive jackpots. And neighboring states are sure to see declines in cross-border sales once Wyoming joins up. For now, those border retailers can benefit from selling tickets to Powerball seekers from the Cowboy State.