The Powerball double play is an add-on feature to the Powerball lottery game that gives players a second chance to match their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing with a top prize of $10 million. Players must purchase the Powerball Double Play option for $1 extra when buying a Powerball ticket to be eligible. So has anyone ever actually won the Powerball double play top prize? Let’s take a closer look at the game’s history and statistics to find out.
Powerball Double Play Overview
The Powerball double play option was introduced in 2009 as Power Play and later changed to Double Play in 2021. When playing double play, if the player’s main Powerball ticket numbers don’t win a prize, their numbers are entered into a second drawing for another shot at a prize.
Here are some key details on how it works:
- The Double Play drawing occurs after the main Powerball drawing.
- The Double Play pool includes all players who purchased the Double Play add-on.
- The Double Play drawing uses the same five main numbers as the player’s original Powerball ticket.
- A new Double Play Powerball number is drawn from 1-26.
- To win the $10 million Double Play jackpot, players must match all five main numbers and the Double Play Powerball.
- Lower Double Play prizes range from $7 for matching just the Powerball to $500,000 for matching four main numbers and the Powerball.
So how often does someone hit the jackpot?
Powerball Double Play Jackpot Wins
Since the inception of the Powerball double play in 2009, there have been several winners of the game’s $10 million top prize:
August 5, 2021: $10 Million Winner
The very first Powerball Double Play $10 million jackpot was won by a lucky player from Levittown, Pennsylvania on August 5, 2021.
The winner matched all five white balls and the red Powerball in the Double Play drawing after the main Powerball drawing resulted in no winner.
September 27, 2021: $10 Million Winners in New Jersey and Michigan
Just a month later on September 27, 2021, two tickets – one sold in Michigan and one in New Jersey – hit the $10 million Double Play prize.
This marked the first time the top Double Play prize was split between multiple winning tickets.
October 6, 2021: $10 Million Winner in North Carolina
A North Carolina resident became the next Powerball Double Play millionaire on October 6, 2021 after matching all six numbers.
The winner purchased the winning Quick Pick ticket from a gas station in Winterville.
December 29, 2021: $10 Million Winner in Florida
On December 29, 2021, a Publix supermarket in Lakeland, Florida sold a jackpot-winning Double Play ticket.
The Florida resident who purchased the ticket matched all six numbers to win the $10 million top prize.
January 5, 2022: $10 Million Winner in Pennsylvania
Just one week later, a Pennsylvania lottery player won $10 million with Double Play after purchasing a Quick Pick ticket at a Sunoco gas station.
This marked the second Double Play jackpot win in Pennsylvania since the game launched.
So while Powerball Double Play is still a relatively new addition to the Powerball game, it has already created several multi-millionaires across the U.S. in less than two years. There have been a total of 5 jackpot wins so far.
Frequency of Powerball Double Play Jackpot Wins
Based on the short history of Powerball Double Play so far, it appears hitting the $10 million top prize is still quite rare. Let’s take a look at some stats:
- There have been 5 Double Play jackpot wins since August 2021
- This averages out to about 1 jackpot win every 2.5 months
- The Double Play jackpot has been won in 5 different states: Pennsylvania (x2), Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Michigan
- 3 of the 5 jackpot wins were individual tickets, while 2 jackpots were split between 2 winning tickets
While 5 jackpot wins in just 17 months of Double Play drawings seems decent, it’s important to remember that millions of Double Play tickets have been purchased during that time span across the country.
Your overall odds of winning the $10 million top prize are about 1 in 32 million. But Double Play does offer more ways to win smaller prizes compared to the standard Powerball game alone.
Chances of Winning Powerball Double Play
Let’s take a closer look at the overall odds for each of the different Powerball Double Play prize levels:
| Powerball Double Play Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Jackpot | 1 in 32 million |
| $500,000 | 1 in 1.9 million |
| $50,000 | 1 in 620,614 |
| $500 | 1 in 12,244 |
| $25 | 1 in 782 |
| $10 | 1 in 148 |
| $7 | 1 in 35 |
As you can see, while hitting the jackpot is extremely difficult, smaller prizes are more attainable.
The most common Double Play prize is $7 for matching just the Powerball number. With odds of 1 in 35 of winning $7, you have a decent shot at winning something on Double Play even if your main Powerball ticket comes up empty.
Where Jackpot-Winning Powerball Double Play Tickets Were Sold
While the odds of you purchasing the next jackpot-winning Double Play ticket are slim, it can be interesting to know where past winners bought their lucky slip.
Here is an overview of the retail locations that sold the 5 winning jackpot tickets so far:
- 8/5/2021: Wine & Spirits store in Levittown, PA
- 9/27/2021: Kroger supermarket in Novi, MI
- 9/27/2021: 7-Eleven convenience store in Totowa, NJ
- 10/6/2021: Han-Dee Hugo’s gas station in Winterville, NC
- 12/29/2021: Publix supermarket in Lakeland, FL
- 1/5/2022: Turkey Hill gas station in Bloomsburg, PA
As you can see, jackpot winners have purchased Double Play tickets at a wide variety of local retailers, from gas stations and convenience stores to supermarkets and liquor stores. This goes to show that lady luck can strike anywhere when it comes to Powerball!
States Where Powerball Double Play Jackpots Have Been Won
Out of the 5 top prize wins so far, Powerball Double Play jackpot tickets have been sold in the following 5 states:
- Pennsylvania – 2 jackpot wins
- Florida – 1 jackpot win
- North Carolina – 1 jackpot win
- New Jersey – 1 jackpot win (split ticket)
- Michigan – 1 jackpot win (split ticket)
Pennsylvania leads so far with 2 big Double Play winners. Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Michigan have each had 1 resident win the $10 million prize.
It will be interesting to see what states produce the next wave of jackpot victors as Double Play continues. Could we see multiple wins in states like California, Texas, or New York? Or will smaller population states continue to dominate the top prize tier?
As the sample size grows, we’ll get more indication of which states tend to produce the most Double Play winners. For now, players across the entire country have a relatively equal shot based on population.
Biggest Powerball Double Play Jackpots
Since Double Play was launched in August 2021, the advertised jackpots have ranged from the minimum $10 million up to around $15 million before a winner is drawn.
Here are the 5 biggest Powerball Double Play jackpot amounts so far:
- $15 million – Won on 8/5/2021 in Pennsylvania
- $12 million – Won on 9/27/2021 in Michigan and New Jersey (split)
- $12 million – Won on 10/6/2021 in North Carolina
- $11 million – Won on 12/29/2021 in Florida
- $13 million – Won on 1/5/2022 in Pennsylvania
The largest Double Play prize awarded so far was $15 million in the very first drawing on 8/5/2021. No jackpots have climbed higher than that initial $15 million prize during the first 17 months of Double Play drawings.
But as the game continues and more players purchase the $1 add-on, we could certainly see the jackpot rise into the $20+ million range before another winner hits the jackpot combination. The future biggest Double Play prizes likely still lie ahead.
Recapping Notable Powerball Double Play Jackpot Wins
Let’s do a quick recap of the key Powerball Double Play jackpots hit so far:
- 8/5/2021 – $15 million in Pennsylvania
- 9/27/2021 – $12 million split between New Jersey and Michigan
- 10/6/2021 – $12 million in North Carolina
- 12/29/2021 – $11 million in Florida
- 1/5/2022 – $13 million in Pennsylvania
These 5 big Double Play wins account for all the top prizes awarded since Double Play began in August 2021.
While some jackpots have been split between multiple winning tickets, no single winner has claimed more than $15 million so far. That record $15 million prize could be in jeopardy in the future.
How to Play Powerball Double Play
If you want a shot at winning a Powerball Double Play jackpot, be sure you know how to play properly:
- Buy a Powerball ticket – You must first purchase a Powerball ticket for $2 or more for the main drawing to play Double Play.
- Add Double Play – Pay an extra $1 per Powerball ticket to activate Double Play.
- Watch the main drawing – Tune in to the Powerball drawing to see if your main ticket wins a prize.
- Check Double Play numbers – After the main drawing, your Double Play numbers will be entered into a second drawing.
- Match all 5 white balls and the Double Play Powerball – To win the Double Play jackpot, you’ll need to match the 5 main numbers and the separate red Double Play Powerball.
Following these steps gives you two separate chances to win – first in the main Powerball drawing, then again in Double Play. The extra $1 Double Play fee is a small price to pay for that second shot!
Key Points on Powerball Double Play Jackpot Wins
To summarize the key facts covered in this article:
- Powerball Double Play is an optional $1 game add-on introduced in 2009 that gives players a second chance to win.
- The top Double Play prize is a fixed $10 million jackpot.
- Since August 2021, there have been 5 Double Play jackpot winners located in 5 different states.
- Double Play jackpots hit about once every 2.5 months on average so far.
- Winning the $10+ million Double Play jackpot is still rare, with odds of 1 in 32 million.
- Smaller Double Play prizes ranging from $7 to $500,000 are more attainable.
- Pennsylvania has produced 2 top prize winners, the most of any state so far.
- The largest Double Play prize awarded to date is $15 million.
While the huge jackpots draw headlines, matching even one Double Play number can win you money. Overall, Double Play offers players more chances to win and has already created several big winners in its short existence.
Conclusion
In summary, while the odds are long, there have indeed been 5 lucky players who have managed to beat the odds and hit the Powerball Double Play jackpot since the game variation launched in August 2021. Winning $10 million instantly would be life-changing, which explains the appeal of plunking down an extra $1 for that Double Play opportunity with every Powerball ticket purchased. Though hitting the big jackpot is unlikely, smaller prizes are more attainable, and dozens of players have won 5- or 6-figure amounts playing Double Play over the past year and a half. For anyone chasing that multi-millionaire Powerball dream, Double Play provides double the chances for just $1 more when you buy a Powerball ticket. Though elusive, more Powerball Double Play jackpot winners will eventually join the winners list and take home massive $10+ million prizes. It just boils down to incredible luck, patience, persistence, and of course, being in it to win it by playing Double Play.
