Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, with players hoping to win jackpots that can reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars. But Powerball isn’t available in every state. So which states offer Powerball, and can you play it in all 50 states?
The quick answer is no, Powerball is not offered in all 50 U.S. states. Currently, Powerball is played in 45 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states that do not participate in Powerball are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah.
While the majority of states do offer Powerball, rules and eligibility vary by jurisdiction. And over the years, some states have opted in or out of the multi-state lottery. Understanding current and historical Powerball participation can help you know where Powerball tickets can be purchased.
Background on the Powerball Game
Powerball is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a non-profit organization formed in 1987. The game was created in 1992 as Lotto America, renaming to Powerball in 1996. Powerball jackpots start at $40 million and roll over when there is no grand prize winner. Players win prizes by matching numbers on their ticket to numbers drawn in a random lottery drawing.
Over three decades, Powerball has grown into one of the most recognizable lottery brands in the country. As of 2023, the record Powerball jackpot reached $2.04 billion shared by winners in California, Florida, and Wisconsin. Winners have the choice of receiving their prize as an annuity paid out over 29 years or as a reduced lump sum payment.
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play. Players select 5 main numbers between 1-69 and one Powerball number between 1-26. Additional features allow players to multiply non-jackpot prizes. Drawings are held each Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
Current Powerball Participation by State
In 2023, 45 states plus Washington D.C, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands offer Powerball. The following tables summarizes current Powerball participation:
States Offering Powerball
| Arizona | Delaware | Indiana | Louisiana | Missouri | New Mexico |
| Arkansas | Florida | Iowa | Maine | Montana | New York |
| California | Georgia | Idaho | Maryland | Nebraska | North Carolina |
| Colorado | Illinois | Kansas | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | North Dakota |
| Connecticut | Indiana | Kentucky | Michigan | New Jersey | Ohio |
| Delaware | Iowa | Louisiana | Minnesota | New Mexico | Oklahoma |
| District of Columbia | Kansas | Maine | Mississippi | New York | Oregon |
| Florida | Kentucky | Maryland | Missouri | North Carolina | Pennsylvania |
| Georgia | Louisiana | Massachusetts | Montana | North Dakota | Rhode Island |
| Idaho | Maine | Michigan | Nebraska | Ohio | South Carolina |
| Illinois | Maryland | Minnesota | New Hampshire | Oklahoma | South Dakota |
| Indiana | Massachusetts | Mississippi | New Jersey | Oregon | Tennessee |
| Iowa | Michigan | Missouri | New Mexico | Pennsylvania | Texas |
| Kansas | Minnesota | Montana | New York | Rhode Island | Vermont |
| Kentucky | Mississippi | Nebraska | North Carolina | South Carolina | Virginia |
| Louisiana | Missouri | New Hampshire | North Dakota | South Dakota | Washington |
| Maine | Montana | New Jersey | Ohio | Tennessee | West Virginia |
| Maryland | Nebraska | New Mexico | Oklahoma | Texas | Wisconsin |
| Massachusetts | New Hampshire | New York | Oregon | Vermont | Wyoming |
States Not Offering Powerball
| Alabama | Alaska | Hawaii | Nevada | Utah |
As shown, the only states that do not have Powerball are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, and Utah. The remainder of states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently participate in Powerball.
History of Powerball State Participation
While 45 states now take part in Powerball drawings, participation has changed over the years as some states joined then later dropped out. Here is a summary timeline of key events in Powerball state participation:
- 1992 – 15 original Lotto America states begin offering game: Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Wisconsin. Name changed to Powerball in 1996.
- 1993 – Added 7 more states: Arizona, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, District of Columbia
- 1994 – Florida joins Powerball
- 1996 – Powerball brand introduced
- 1997 – Added Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia
- 1998 – Texas joins Powerball
- 1999 – Nebraska joins
- 2002 – New Mexico joins
- 2004 – North Carolina joins
- 2006 – South Carolina joins
- 2009 – North Dakota joins
- 2010 – Added U.S. Virgin Islands
- 2012 – California joins Powerball
- 2013 – Delaware becomes first state to exit Powerball then rejoins in 2020
- 2014 – Wyoming joins
- 2017 – Puerto Rico joins Powerball
- 2020 – Delaware rejoins Powerball after 7 year absence
Key takeaways from the timeline:
- Original Lotto America states formed the backbone for Powerball participation
- Florida was an early adopter, joining in 1994
- California joining in 2012 was a major milestone since it is the nation’s most populous state
- Delaware exited Powerball for a period between 2013-2020
- Most recent joiner was Delaware returning to Powerball in 2020
Understanding this evolution helps explain why Powerball has a nearly nationwide footprint today, while also clarifying that state participation has not been entirely static.
Why Some States Don’t Participate in Powerball
For states that currently do not offer Powerball, there are a few common reasons:
Utah
Utah has restrictions against gambling in the state. As a result, the state does not participate in Powerball or other national lottery games. The only form of legal gambling in Utah are the state lottery and pari-mutuel betting. Powerball is unlikely to expand to Utah unless these gambling laws change.
Nevada
Nevada permits most forms of gambling. However, Powerball does not operate in Nevada because the state exclusively participates in the Multi-State Lottery known as Mega Millions rather than Powerball. Nevada joined Mega Millions in 2010. Nevada is satisfied with Mega Millions and has no plans to cross-sell Powerball.
Alabama
Alabama used to offer Powerball until 2016 when the state halted Powerball ticket sales. This occurred due to a budget disagreement between then-Governor Robert Bentley and state lawmakers over the General Fund. The lack of an agreement led to a halt in Powerball and other lottery games in Alabama for nearly three years.
After resolving the budget concerns, Alabama introduced its own lottery in 2019 but has not rejoined Powerball. Currently, Powerball does not operate in Alabama and there are no imminent plans for Alabama to return.
Alaska
Alaska does not have a state lottery or participate in national lotteries. Similar to Utah, most forms of gambling are illegal in Alaska. Efforts to establish a state lottery and join multistate games have failed to pass in the state legislature. As a result, Alaska is very unlikely to offer Powerball unless there are changes to state gaming laws.
Hawaii
Hawaii previously offered Powerball from 2001-2006. However, the state eventually withdrew over concerns about lottery policies and revenue sharing with other members. Hawaii felt its low population compared to other states resulted in disproportionate jackpot contributions versus ticket sales. The state also sought greater control over marketing Powerball in Hawaii.
Since Hawaii already has established local gaming options, there is little pressure for the state to reconsider joining Powerball. The inter-state compact issues that caused Hawaii to leave remain unresolved.
Could Powerball Expand to All 50 States?
In theory, Powerball could eventually expand to all 50 states if the holdouts agreed to join the Multi-State Lottery Association and comply with game rules and revenue sharing policies. However, there are some significant roadblocks for the states currently not offering Powerball:
- Utah – Would require changing laws on gambling.
- Nevada – Currently aligned with Mega Millions game.
- Alabama – No active legislation to rejoin Powerball.
- Alaska – Would need to establish state lottery first.
- Hawaii – Left Powerball over compact disagreements.
Given the obstacles, it’s considered very unlikely that Powerball could expand to all 50 states in the near future. The states not participating either prohibit gambling outright or have not expressed interest in joining the game. Unless sentiment changes, Powerball will likely continue operating in around 45 states indefinitely.
However, if state gambling restrictions loosened or economic conditions prompted legislators to seek new revenue sources, Powerball growth could potentially occur over the very long term. With so many states already offering the game, full nationwide expansion remains plausible but would require fundamental shifts in several holdout states.
Can You Purchase Powerball Tickets From Any State?
No, Powerball tickets may only be purchased from licensed retailers within jurisdictions participating in the game. Retailers can include grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and lottery outlets. There are no legitimate ways to purchase Powerball tickets online or across state lines from a non-participating state.
Some key rules:
- You must buy tickets in person from an approved retailer in a Powerball state.
- Lottery tickets cannot be mailed across state lines.
- Third party courier services are prohibited from purchasing or transporting tickets.
- Any website claiming to sell Powerball tickets is fraudulent – currently no state allows online sales.
While you can travel to any Powerball state and buy tickets locally, sales across state lines remain restricted. If someone in Utah or Alaska wishes to play Powerball, they would need to visit an authorized retailer in a nearby participating state in person.
There is no valid method for players to participate in Powerball lotteries in jurisdictions where the game is not offered. Players may only legitimately purchase Powerball tickets from licensed sellers in states where the lottery operates per the official rules and regulations.
Future Outlook for Powerball State Participation
In the near term, no major changes are expected to the roster of 45 participating Powerball states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The most likely potential new participant is a return by Alabama which offered Powerball until 2016. Bills have been introduced seeking Alabama’s return but have not yet gained sufficient legislative momentum.
North Dakota also briefly left Powerball for a period in 2015-2016 before ultimately rejoining. This demonstrates that once a state offers Powerball, there can be financial and political pressure to resume ticket sales if interrupted.
Beyond Alabama potentially re-entering, few other states seem poised to adopt Powerball. The game already enjoys wide geographic coverage across most of the country. Regulated interstate gaming compacts can also make coordination complex when introducing new states.
Hawaii’s past dissent over Powerball’s revenue sharing illustrates potential obstacles if other small population states joined. And staunch anti-gambling states like Utah seem firmly entrenched in abstaining from national lotteries.
Overall, Powerball will likely retain a similar nationwide footprint for the foreseeable future. Only incremental changes around the edges of existing participating states are expected. But greater coverage expansion in the coming decades is possible if sentiments on state-run gaming evolve.
Conclusion
In summary, Powerball currently operates in 45 of 50 states after beginning in 1988. The holdouts are Utah, Nevada, Alabama, Alaska, and Hawaii. These states either ban gambling outright or have not passed legislation allowing Powerball for economic or regulatory reasons.
For players, Powerball tickets may only be purchased from authorized retailers in participating jurisdictions. There are no legitimate means to buy tickets online or from a non-Powerball state.
While full nationwide expansion faces challenges, Powerball participation could slowly increase if more states establish lotteries and join the Multi-State Lottery Association compact. Until fundamental changes occur around gaming laws and policies, coverage will likely remain limited to around 45 states into the foreseeable future.
