Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with players dreaming of winning massive jackpot prizes. In the state of Florida, Powerball is played twice a week on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 10:00 PM Eastern Time. Tickets can be purchased up until 9:59 PM on draw nights. Powerball is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association and drawings are held at the Florida Lottery’s studios in Tallahassee. With two chances to win each week, Powerball provides Floridians with regular opportunities to take home potentially life-changing jackpots.
Powerball Basics
Powerball is a multi-state lottery game that is played in 45 states, including Florida, as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball draws occur every Wednesday and Saturday night. To play, players select five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball number between 1 and 26. The minimum Powerball jackpot starts at $40 million and continues to grow until there is a winner. Jackpots can roll over for months or even years before someone hits the jackpot.
Some key facts about Powerball include:
- Cost per ticket: $2
- Odds of winning jackpot: 1 in 292 million
- Odds of winning any prize: 1 in 24.9
- Jackpot grows until won, no cap
- Jackpots start at minimum $40 million
- Drawings held Wednesdays & Saturdays at 10:00 PM ET
In addition to the jackpot, there are eight other prize tiers in Powerball ranging from $4 to $1 million. Players win a prize by matching at least 3 numbers and the Powerball.
When Can You Play Powerball in Florida?
In Florida, Powerball can be played twice weekly on the following draw nights:
- Wednesday at 10:00 PM Eastern Time
- Saturday at 10:00 PM Eastern Time
Tickets can be purchased up until 9:59 PM on the night of the drawing at any authorized Florida Powerball retailer. Tickets cannot be purchased after the 9:59 PM cutoff.
Powerball winning numbers are drawn live from the Florida Lottery studios in Tallahassee at 10:00 PM ET on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The drawings are supervised by both the Florida Lottery and representatives from the Multi-State Lottery Association.
So in summary, to play Powerball in Florida on a Wednesday or Saturday, you must buy your Powerball tickets before 9:59 PM on that draw night. This gives you two chances per week to play Powerball and win big!
Where to Buy Powerball Tickets in Florida
Powerball tickets can be purchased at over 13,000 authorized retailers across the state of Florida. Some of the most convenient places to buy Powerball tickets include:
- Grocery stores
- Gas stations
- Convenience stores
- Liquor stores
- Superstores like Walmart and Target
- Newsstands
- Corner stores
- Drug stores
- Florida Lottery retailers
Look for the official Florida Lottery logo when identifying retailers. You can also find retailers on the Florida Lottery website’s retailer locator.
When buying tickets in person, tell the cashier you want to purchase a Powerball ticket. You can choose your own numbers or do a Quick Pick for randomly generated numbers. Be sure to get your ticket before the cutoff!
Tickets can also be purchased online through the Florida Lottery website or mobile app as long as you are located within the state at the time of purchase. Sign up for a Florida Lottery account to buy tickets online.
Florida Powerball Jackpots & Winners
Powerball has created millionaires and multi-millionaires in the state of Florida over the years. Here are some of Florida’s biggest Powerball winners so far:
| Winner | Date | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 4 winners from Jacksonville | Jan 13, 2016 | $450.6 million |
| Conner and Nancy McDermott | Jan 11, 2023 | $396.9 million |
| Joan Ginther | Jun 10, 2010 | $189.3 million |
| Aura Reinosa | Aug 7, 2013 | $59.8 million |
| Darin and Terry Stearns | Feb 22, 2017 | $50 million |
The lottery likes to say “You can’t win if you don’t play!” While winning the jackpot is exceedingly rare, dozens of Floridians win smaller Powerball prizes amounting to millions of dollars each year. Will you become Florida’s next Powerball winner?
Record Powerball Jackpots
Across the United States, Powerball has topped $1 billion three times over the history of the game:
- $1.586 billion on January 13, 2016 won by 3 winners from California, Florida and Tennessee.
- $758.7 million on August 23, 2017 won by a single player in Massachusetts.
- $1.537 billion on October 23, 2018 won by a single player in South Carolina.
The current record Powerball jackpot stands at the massive $1.586 billion won in January 2016. The jackpot started at $40 million on November 7, 2015 and rolled over 25 times before being hit 3 months later. Millions of people rushed to buy tickets as the jackpot grew higher and higher. The Florida winners split the record prize with a winner from California and another from Tennessee.
While jackpots this size are rare, they show the immense prize potential of playing Powerball. Who knows when the next billion-dollar jackpot will come along?
Odds of Winning Powerball
The odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of claiming the jackpot are 1 in 292 million. Here are the odds breakdown for each prize:
| Prize Level | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Jackpot | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| $1 million | 1 in 11,688,054 |
| $50,000 | 1 in 913,129 |
| $100 | 1 in 36,525 |
| $100 | 1 in 14,494 |
| $7 | 1 in 579 |
| $4 | 1 in 91 |
As you can see, the odds are stacked against winning the jackpot. However, smaller prizes are more attainable. Thousands of tickets win prizes at the $7, $100, and $50,000 levels each drawing.
Tips for Playing Powerball in Florida
Here are some tips to keep in mind when playing Powerball in Florida:
- Buy early to avoid lines. Tickets sales surge as the drawing nears.
- Check your ticket carefully. Make sure it reflects the numbers you want.
- Consider joining an office or pool. This increases your odds and shares the cost.
- Use Quick Pick for random numbers if you don’t have favorites.
- Save your ticket in a safe place until after the drawing.
- Write your name on the back of the ticket for security.
- Purchase multiple tickets to boost your odds in a logical way.
- Have fun, but play responsibly. Only gamble what you can afford to lose.
It only takes one ticket to win, so don’t go overboard chasing very long odds. But it’s fine to play your lucky numbers or buy a few extra tickets when the jackpot is high.
Responsible play is key. Never spend money intended for daily expenses on lottery tickets.
Claiming Powerball Prizes in Florida
If you are lucky enough to win a Powerball prize in Florida, here is what you need to know about claiming your winnings:
- Prizes up to $600 can be redeemed at any authorized Florida Lottery retailer.
- Prizes between $601 and $250,000 can be claimed at any Lottery district office.
- Jackpots over $250,000 must be claimed at Florida Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.
Be sure to sign the back of your winning ticket and store it in a safe place until you are ready to claim. You have 180 days from the draw date to submit your winning ticket.
You’ll need to complete a claim form and provide photo ID. For large prizes, the Lottery may schedule a press conference or issue a press release announcing your win unless you choose to remain anonymous.
Powerball winnings are exempt from Florida state income tax, so you keep the full amount!
Powerball Revenue & Expenses
In Florida, Powerball ticket sales generated over $300 million for the state’s Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) in Fiscal Year 2021/2022. Nationwide, Powerball contributed $272 million to good causes last year according to the Multi-State Lottery Association.
In terms of expenses, approximately half of Powerball revenue goes back into prize payouts. Other expenses include:
- Retailer commissions – 6%
- Operating expenses – 1%
- Marketing – 1%
The majority of remaining revenue goes to the EETF and other government causes. So while one player wins big, many others also benefit from Powerball ticket proceeds each year.
Is Powerball Worth Playing?
Only you can decide if Powerball is worth playing for you. With jackpots starting at $40 million and potentially reaching billions, the prizes are enormous. Even smaller prizes can be life changing, while scratch-off tickets do not offer the same huge payouts.
However, responsible gambling experts advise not to play just for the jackpot. The odds are so astronomically high that it is not a realistic expectation. Focus instead on being entertained and playing for fun. A ticket or two each drawing is plenty for most players’ budgets.
Powerball definitely adds excitement twice a week, especially when the jackpot grows. There is a reason Powerball is so popular across the country. There’s nothing wrong with buying a ticket and dreaming a little.
Just be sure to play with money you can afford to lose and view Powerball as entertainment, not as a way to finance your future. Millions of people enjoy Powerball. You’ll have to decide if playing suits you.
How to Play Powerball Responsibly
While Powerball is fun and entertaining for most players, it’s important to play responsibly to avoid issues:
- Set a budget for Powerball and do not exceed it
- Only use entertainment money, not bill or grocery money
- Do not borrow money or use credit to play
- Do not chase losses or try to win money back
- Balance Powerball with other activities
- Keep lottery play recreational, not professional
- Don’t let children play unsupervised
- Limit playing when jackpots surge to avoid overspending
- View losing as the cost of entertainment
If gambling ever negatively affects work, relationships, finances, or health, take a step back or seek help. The Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling operates a 24/7 helpline at 1-888-ADMIT-IT.
Practice responsible play to keep Powerball enjoyable. Know your limits, play within your means, and have fun dreaming about those big jackpots!
The Future of Powerball in Florida
Powerball has been played in Florida since 2009 and continues to be immensely popular. Given the game’s success, it is likely here to stay.
Future changes could potentially include:
- Higher starting jackpots to boost interest
- Second weekly drawing added
- New ways to purchase tickets online
- Annuity or cash options modified
Powerball may add a Tuesday night drawing at some point, which would give Florida players three chances per week to win.
The Florida Lottery will surely continue promoting Powerball to maximize contributions to education in the state. With two drawings per week, Powerball creates regular excitement for players dreaming of a huge jackpot win.
Summary
In summary, Powerball can be played twice weekly in Florida on Wednesday and Saturday nights. To play, purchase a $2 ticket before the 9:59 PM cutoff at an authorized lottery retailer. Powerball has created millionaires and billion-dollar winners over the years. While the jackpot odds are long, it only takes one ticket to win big. Play responsibly within your entertainment budget and know that ticket proceeds go to a good cause. Twice-weekly Powerball drawings will continue providing Floridians with an exciting chance to win life-changing jackpots for years to come.