Powerball is an American lottery game sold through U.S. lotteries as a shared jackpot pool game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a non-profit association formed by an agreement with member lotteries. Powerball is drawn Wednesdays and Saturdays. Effective January 7, 2009, the game's drawings moved to Florida, as Powerball is now available there. Powerball is available in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, compared to its rival, Mega Millions, played in 12 states.

Powerball's predecessor began in 1988; it was known as Lotto*America. The game, and name, were officially changed to Powerball on April 19, 1992.

In March 2009, it was reported that there are discussions aimed at allowing individual U.S. lotteries to sell both Mega Millions and Powerball. New Jersey, a Mega Millions state, announced on March 10 that it would seek permission to join MUSL for the purpose of adding Powerball to its game portfolio. In April 2009, both houses of the Washington legislature passed a bill that would allow Powerball sales 90 days after the governor's signature.

Background

MUSL manages the finances for each game, develops new games, conducts the drawings and provides other services and other games to its member lotteries, including Hot Lotto, Wild Card 2 (smaller games played similar to Powerball), 2by2, and Cashola (a progressive jackpot video lottery (slot) game). There are currently 32 members: 30 state members; the District of Columbia; and the United States Virgin Islands. Florida was the most recent state to join the Powerball on January 4, 2009. One member, Maine, left MUSL during the transition from Lotto*America to Powerball, after which MUSL had 14 states and the District of Columbia. Maine would not offer the current game until 2004.

Powerball was the first game to use two drums as its core game. Using two drums offers more flexibility in game design, allowing for the possibility of both high jackpot odds and low odds for other prize levels. The two-drum concept was suggested by Steve Caputo of the Oregon Lottery. The two-drum concept has since been copied by Mega Millions (formerly The Big Game) in the U.S., Australia's Powerball, Thunderball in the United Kingdom, and EuroMillions.

The matrix has been changed periodically. On March 4, 2001, an optional multiplier wheel (called "PowerPlay") was added. (The wheel was retired in 2009; PowerPlay is drawn by computer; see below.)

On November 2, 1997, the annuity period was changed from 20 to 25 years, and the cash option was added. The annuity currently consists of 30 graduated payments (increasing annually) over a period of 29 years.

Until December 31, 2008, Powerball drawings were hosted by longtime Iowa radio personality Mike Pace, who had hosted MUSL drawings since the organization began. He is not part of the Florida drawings. (There was one more drawing under the previous format, on January 3, 2009, hosted by Polly Carver-Kimm, before the draw venue moved to Florida.)