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Is Powerball double play in all states?

Powerball is one of the most popular lottery games in the United States, offering players the chance to win huge jackpot prizes. In recent years, many lotteries have begun offering an optional feature called Double Play alongside the traditional Powerball game. This has led to some confusion among players about whether Double Play is available in all states that offer Powerball.

What is Powerball Double Play?

Powerball Double Play is an optional add-on feature that gives players a second chance to match their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing with a top prize of $10 million. Here’s how it works:

  • When buying a Powerball ticket, players can pay an extra $1 per play to add Double Play.
  • The Double Play drawing is held after the main Powerball drawing, using the same numbers the player selected for Powerball.
  • The Double Play prize structure is different from the main Powerball game, with fixed dollar amounts ranging from $7 to $10 million.
  • Players do not need to hit the Powerball to win a Double Play prize.

Double Play offers Powerball players a second shot at a multi-million dollar win for just an extra $1 per play. It’s an appealing add-on feature for those looking to increase their chances of taking home a big lottery prize.

Which states offer Powerball Double Play?

Currently, Powerball Double Play is available in the following 16 states:

  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Indiana
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Washington D.C.

So while Double Play is available in a good portion of states that offer Powerball, it is not currently available in all participating Powerball jurisdictions. There are 34 total Powerball members, so fewer than half offer the Double Play add-on at this time.

Why don’t all Powerball states offer Double Play?

There are a few reasons why Powerball Double Play is not yet available nationwide:

  • It’s a relatively new feature – Double Play was introduced in 2017, so it’s still rolling out to new areas.
  • Individual lotteries decide whether to offer it – Each jurisdiction makes the choice on its own whether to offer the Double Play option.
  • Requirements for ticket systems – To support Double Play, lottery systems and retail terminals need certain technology upgrades which takes time and money.
  • Game coordination – Launching Double Play requires coordination at the Multi-State Lottery Association level for game rules and implementation.

As Double Play continues its expansion across the U.S., more Powerball members are expected to introduce this additional game feature over time. But for now, players will need to check if their state is one of the 16 where they can take advantage of Double Play when buying Powerball tickets.

Current Double Play jackpot and recent winners

The current Double Play jackpot sits at $10 million, with the last win coming on September 24, 2022. Here are the most recent Double Play jackpot winners:

Winning Date State Jackpot
September 24, 2022 Michigan $10 million
September 7, 2022 Florida $10 million
June 8, 2022 Missouri $10 million

Double Play has awarded over $94 million in total jackpot prizes since it began. While not as massive as Powerball’s jackpots, Double Play still gives players Life-changing win opportunities.

Other big Double Play prize winners

In addition to jackpot wins, Double Play has awarded many other sizeable prizes in its consolations tiers. Here is a look at some of the biggest:

  • On May 4, 2022, a $150,000 winning Double Play ticket was sold in Virginia.
  • A Texas player won a $100,000 prize on April 30, 2022.
  • On March 26, 2022, two tickets in North Carolina matched 5 numbers for $500,000 prizes.
  • Someone in New York won a $250,000 Double Play prize on February 12, 2022.
  • A $150,000 winning ticket was sold in Michigan on January 1, 2022.

While it may seem like most big winners hail from a handful of states, Double Play prizes can be won across all participating jurisdictions. Smaller prizes are frequently won nationwide too.

How to play Powerball Double Play

Playing Powerball Double Play is easy for those already familiar with the Powerball game. Here are the basics:

  1. Purchase a Powerball ticket as usual at a lottery retailer. Mark the Double Play box on the play slip or tell the clerk you want to add Double Play.
  2. Pay an extra $1 per Powerball play to activate Double Play.
  3. Choose 5 main numbers from 1-69 and 1 Powerball number from 1-26.
  4. Wait for the main Powerball drawing to see if you matched any numbers.
  5. Tune in for the Double Play drawing about an hour later to see if your numbers come up again.
  6. Match numbers to the Double Play prize structure to win.

The Double Play drawing uses the same numbers you picked for the Powerball drawing. You do not need to hit the Powerball number to win a Double Play prize. Matches start at $7 for 4 numbers.

Double Play prize structure

Here is how the prize money breaks down for Double Play wins:

Match Prize Amount
5 numbers $10 million (jackpot)
4 numbers + Double Play Ball $500,000
4 numbers $50,000
3 numbers + Double Play Ball $500
3 numbers $25
2 numbers + Double Play Ball $10
1 number + Double Play Ball $7

The set prize amounts allow players to clearly calculate their potential winnings. And matching just the Double Play Ball still nets you a $7 prize.

Double Play odds and probabilities

The odds of winning any Double Play prize are about 1 in 9. But what are the chances of hitting the big jackpot? Below are the game odds:

Match Odds (1 in x)
5 numbers 701,313
4 numbers + Double Play Ball 13,761
4 numbers 329
3 numbers + Double Play Ball 175
3 numbers 50
2 numbers + Double Play Ball 29
1 number + Double Play Ball 15

As with Powerball, the odds are stacked against hitting the jackpot. But it’s still thrilling to have a second chance with Double Play’s separate drawing.

Can you use Power Play with Double Play?

For players who like to multiply their lower-tier winnings, Power Play does work with Double Play. By adding Power Play for an extra $1 per play, non-jackpot Double Play prizes can be increased by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

The Power Play number is drawn before the main Powerball drawing. This same Power Play number then gets applied to any Double Play wins too. So with careful selection, players can significantly boost their Double Play prize value.

Pros of playing Double Play

Why should you consider adding Double Play when you buy your Powerball tickets? Here are some of the best reasons:

  • More chances to win – Double your opportunities to take home a prize.
  • Higher overall odds – About 1 in 9 odds of winning any Double Play prize.
  • Jackpots start at $10 million – Decent shot at a big top prize without waiting for a huge Powerball roll.
  • Set secondary prizes – Significant mid-tier prize payouts between $500 to $50,000.
  • Low extra cost – Just $1 more per Powerball play to activate.

For lottery enthusiasts who dream of hitting it big, Double Play offers double the action at a minimal extra cost. The fixed secondary prizes are particularly appealing.

Cons of playing Double Play

While the pros of Double Play look good, there are also some potential downsides to consider:

  • Lower jackpot than Powerball – $10 million top prize doesn’t compare to Powerball’s massive jackpots.
  • Longer odds of jackpot win – 1 in 701,313 chance is worse than Powerball’s 1 in 292 million.
  • More money spent on lottery – Having twice the number of tickets raises your lottery expenditures.
  • Taxes on wins – More frequent smaller and mid-tier wins may bump you into a higher tax bracket.
  • Not available everywhere – Only 16 participating Powerball states currently offer Double Play.

While Double Play presents nice additional chances to win, the odds are stacked against hitting the big $10 million top prize. And smaller wins come with tax considerations as well.

Should you play Powerball with or without Double Play?

Whether or not to spring for the Double Play addon comes down to your lottery playing preferences and budget. Here are some factors to consider when deciding:

  • How important is the shot at a huge Powerball jackpot vs. smaller fixed prizes?
  • Are you satisfied with the main Powerball game, or do you want more action?
  • Can you comfortably afford to spend double on lottery tickets?
  • Do you like simpler fixed prize payouts instead of pari-mutuel Powerball prizes?
  • Are you good about paying taxes on any lottery winnings?

For casual players that enjoy the mega jackpots, Powerball alone may be enough. But frequent players thirsty for more chances may find value in Double Play’s extras.

Key takeaways

While Powerball Double Play has expanded to many states, it is not yet available nationwide. Only 16 participating Powerball lotteries currently offer the add-on game feature. But Double Play may appeal to regular players who want additional chances at significant fixed prize amounts. When weighing Powerball with vs. without Double Play, consider your lottery budget, preferences for prizes, and desire for extra games. Carefully evaluate the pros and cons before deciding if Double Play is a good fit for you.

Conclusion

Powerball Double Play provides players a secondary set of chances to win when buying Powerball tickets. But Double Play is not ubiquitous across all Powerball states yet. Currently only about half of the Powerball jurisdictions offer the popular add-on feature. While Double Play offers tantalizing extra shots at millions in fixed prizes, the availability limitations and higher overall odds make it a less than perfect complement to the legendary Powerball game. Yet frequent lottery players with an appetite for more action may find the Double Play option delivers sufficient excitement and opportunities to justify the small additional investment. With modest growth ahead for Double Play, lottery lovers can either seize the current chance for double prospects now or wait until it launches in their state.