Powerball (Australia)

Powerball is a lottery operated by Tatts Group under the master brand, the Lott and its licensed subsidiaries including New South Wales Lotteries in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Tattersalls in Victoria and Tasmania, Golden Casket in Queensland, and South Australian Lotteries in South Australia. The Government owned Lotterywest operates the lottery in Western Australia.

This article is about the lottery game in Australia. For other uses, see Powerball (disambiguation).
Powerball
RegionAustralia
Highest jackpot$150 million
Odds of winning jackpot1 in 134,490,400 (Powerball Jackpot)
Shown on7TWO
Websitewww.thelott.com/powerball/play

The highest Australian Powerball jackpot was A$150 million on 19 September 2019. Most jackpot wins are not shared by multiple tickets. There are major differences between the Australian and American versions; in the US, a ticket automatically wins by matching the Powerball (the American game has 26[1] Powerballs) while in Australia a minimum of three numbers are needed being two regular numbers plus the Powerball.[2] The American jackpot is annuitized (with a cash option) while Australians winners always collect in lump sum. American lottery prizes are taxable, whilst there are no taxes collected on Australian Powerball winners. Still another difference is that all Australian Powerball prizes are parimutuel, versus fixed prizes on American non-jackpot prizes.


The game was first revamped on 1 March 2013; drawing six regular numbers from 40 balls plus a Powerball using 20 balls. This also allowed the introduction of an 8th prize Division (two main numbers plus the Powerball).[3] Other changes include an increase of 10c per play, and the introduction of an option (QuickHit40) which will "wheel" the 40 Powerballs although not guaranteeing a prize.

The current Powerball format was introduced on 19 April 2018, using two Smartplay Halogen II draw machines[4] with the intention of offering bigger jackpots and creating more overall winners. In each draw, seven regular numbers will be selected from a pool of 35, while the additional Powerball continues to be drawn from a separate pool of 20 balls. A new, 9th Prize Division will be added. To enable the new format, the cost of Powerball entries will be increased.

Records
An Alliance Airlines Fokker 70 at Brisbane Airport, wrapped in Powerball wrapping paper (December 2016)

On 1 March 2007, the Division 1 pool was $33 million; it was the largest Australian lottery prize won.

On 5 June 2008, the Division 1 pool was $58,737,207.41; then the largest prize pool in Australian history to that point (since eclipsed several times, including by Oz Lotto in 2012 , which had a Division 1 pool of $100 million.) [5]

On 30 July 2009, the Division 1 pool was $80 million, the largest Australian Powerball pool until August 2018.[6] There were two Division 1 winners in the drawing.

On 21 August 2014, the Division 1 pool was $70 million. Two winners walked away with 35 million each.

On 28 May 2015, the Division 1 pool was $50 million, won by a single ticket. The winner was a woman from Canberra.[7]

On July 23, 2015, the Division 1 pool was $50 million, won by a single ticket. The winner was a woman from Western Australia.

On January 7, 2016, the Division 1 pool was $70 million, won by a single ticket. The winner was from Queensland.

On January 11, 2018, the Division 1 pool was $55 million, won by a single ticket in the Melbourne town of Brunswick. The prize went unclaimed for almost six months but was finally claimed anonymously just seven days before it was set to be transferred to the Victorian State Revenue Office. In Victoria, the amount of time someone has to claim a prize is unlimited, however if it is not claimed within six months, it will go to the Victorian State Revenue Office where the winner can claim it at any time. [8][9]

On August 16, 2018, the Division 1 pool was $100 million, surpassing the previous record for Powerball and equalling the Oz Lotto record. The Division 1 pool was split between two winners, one from Melbourne, one from Sydney. On 17 January 2019, a single person from Sydney won AUD107 million, making it the largest individual lottery win in Australian history. [10][11]

As of July 18th, 2019, the Division 1 prize is $110 million. It was the largest ever division one prize, in Australias history. [12]

No one won the 100 million jackpot in September, thus it went up to 150 million. It was shared by three winners, they got 50 million each.

Original Odds: 5/45 Regular Balls, 1/45 Powerball (prior to March 2013)
Division Category Odds based on 1 game
1st Division 5 Numbers + Powerball 54,979,155:1
2nd Division 5 Numbers 1,249,526:1
3rd Division 4 Numbers + Powerball 274,896:1
4th Division 3 Numbers + Powerball 7,049:1
5th Division 4 Numbers 6248:1
6th Division 2 Numbers + Powerball 556:1
7th Division 3 Numbers 160:1
Any Prize 120:1

Odds: 6/40 Regular Balls, 1/20 Powerball (prior to 13 April 2018)


Division Category Odds based on 1 game
1st Division 6 Numbers + Powerball 76,767,600:1
2nd Division 6 Numbers 4,040,400:1
3rd Division 5 Numbers + Powerball 376,320:1
4th Division 5 Numbers 19,812:1
5th Division 4 Numbers + Powerball 9,132:1
6th Division 3 Numbers + Powerball 648:1
7th Division 4 Numbers 480:1
8th Division 2 Numbers + Powerball 110:1
Any Prize 78:1

New Odds: 7/35 Regular Balls, 1/20 Powerball (from 13 April 2018)
Division Category Odds based on 1 game
1st Division 7 Numbers + Powerball 134,490,400:1
2nd Division 7 Numbers 7,078,443:1
3rd Division 6 Numbers + Powerball 686,176:1
4th Division 6 Numbers 36,115:1
5th Division 5 Numbers + Powerball 16,943:1
6th Division 4 Numbers + Powerball 1,173:1
7th Division 5 Numbers 892:1
8th Division 3 Numbers + Powerball 188:1
9th Division 2 Numbers + Powerball 66:1
Any Prize 44:1

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-01-12. Retrieved 2009-09-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "How to Play Powerball | Australia's Official Lotteries | the Lott". www.thelott.com.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2013-02-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Australia Powerball Changes March 2013
  4. "Big Changes for Australia Powerball". US Powerball. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  5. "Oz Lotto FAQ's". Lotto.net.
  6. news.com.au Powerball jackpot hits record $80 million Retrieved 2009-07-30
  7. "28 May 2015: $50 Million Powerball Win". Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  8. "Mysterious Victorian has just three months to claim $55 Million". Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  9. "$55 million Powerball prize claimed almost six months after draw". Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  10. "Are you one of the lucky $50m Powerball winners?". Herald-Sun. Aug 17, 2018. Retrieved Sep 19, 2018.
  11. "Sydney winner found! Riverwood dad claims $50 million Powerball prize". The Lott. Aug 18, 2018. Retrieved Sep 19, 2018.
  12. "Powerball Surges To $110 Million For The First Time In Australian Lottery History | The Lott". mediacentre.thelott.com.
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