MADISON, WI (WTAQ) – Starting tonight, it will be harder to win the Powerball jackpot — but you’ll have a better chance of winning smaller prizes.
Ticket buyers for tonight’s drawing are noticing a series of changes.
There are 10 more regular numbers to select, from 1 to 69. The red Powerball has 9 fewer numbers, at 1 to 26. Because of that, the odds of winning the jackpot increase from 1-in-175 million, to 1-in-292 million.
Officials say you’ll see larger and more sustained mega-jackpots — and that should encourage more folks to get in the game.
The Wisconsin Lottery says the overall odds of winning any prize will improve. Also, the $10,000 third prize will jump to $50,000 for matching all the numbers but a regular one. And the maximum Power Play multiplier will go up from 5 to 10, when the jackpot is at $150 million or less.
The multiplier does not apply to the jackpot or the million-dollar second prize. The ticket price remains at $2.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)