What is Powerball and
how does it work?

What is Powerball and how does it work?

Powerball is a well-known lottery introduced in Australia back in 1996, played every Thursday night. It typically features larger jackpots than many other lottery games. The current format involves two sets of numbered balls:

• The first barrel holds 35 balls, from which seven are drawn at random.
• The final Powerball is drawn from a separate barrel of 20 numbers.

If you match all seven numbers plus the additional Powerball, you win Division 1, worth several millions of dollars. The odds of claiming this top prize are 1 in 134,490,400, meaning it’s not uncommon for weeks to pass without a Division 1 winner.

Whenever a draw ends without a winner, the jackpot continues to roll over, potentially becoming quite large. The biggest recorded prize so far was $200 Million in February, 2024.

What type of Powerball tickets are available?

There are 4 main ticket types: Standard, PowerHit, Systems & Syndicates.

What is a Standard ticket?

A Standard entry consists of 7 main numbers plus 1 Powerball number. Each Standard game line gives one chance of winning. You can pick numbers manually or opt for the QuickPick feature. A minimum purchase includes 4 game lines.

To play, simply choose 7 numbers from 1 to 35, and 1 Powerball number from 1 to 20.

How to win Powerball?

To secure Division 1, you must correctly pick all 7 winning numbers along with the Powerball. Each division below that requires fewer correct picks. For any single game line on your ticket, only the highest division won is paid out.

Many assume you need all eight numbers exactly correct to win anything, but Powerball features nine prize divisions, so partial matches can still lead to a payout.

The more numbers you match, the higher the prize division you claim.

In fact, to win Division 9, you only need to correctly choose two main numbers plus the Powerball.

People often boost their winning chances by joining a syndicate, where a group agrees to split any prize.

There are also a few ticket upgrade options you can try:

• A PowerHit entry guarantees the Powerball is matched on your ticket.
• A Systems entry allows you to pick from 8 to 20 main numbers, greatly raising your chances of hitting a higher division.

What time is the weekly Powerball draw?

The weekly Powerball draw airs on Thursday nights at 8:30pm AEST (9:30pm AEDT).

It’s broadcast on Channel 7; if you miss it live, the results are usually posted on our website or app by around 9:00pm AEST (10:00pm AEDT).

Can I increase my chances of winning?

Yes! Upgrading to more advanced ticket types (e.g., Systems, Syndicates, PowerHit) can increase your odds of winning.

Click on the ticket types below to discover how they can improve your odds:

• PowerHit
• Systems
• Syndicate
• Lotto Party

We also recommend visiting our statistics section to see which numbers come up most or least often. Keep in mind, though, every draw is random and all numbers have an equal chance.

When do entries close?

Entries for Powerball close every Thursday at 7:25pm AEST (8:25pm AEDT).

How can I check results?

We email your ticket results right after each draw.

You can also visit the Powerball results page for a complete breakdown of prize divisions.

How to check a Powerball ticket?

The most exciting way is to watch the draw on TV, but you can also check via our site or app.

• The winning numbers are posted online around half an hour after the live broadcast.
• Once logged in, you can view your ticket status under My Account or on the Powerball results page.
• If you have an online account, you’ll also receive an email notification if you’ve won.
• Division 1 winners are contacted personally by phone with life-changing news.

How can I watch the draw?

You can catch it on Channel 7 or 7TWO (and regional affiliates) at roughly 8:30pm AEST (9:30pm AEDT) each Thursday. It’s also available to stream live on the 7plus website.

Can you win Powerball by matching only two numbers?

To land a prize, you need at least three correct numbers in total—two main numbers and the Powerball. That final ball is crucial to qualifying for a lower-division win.

Because the Powerball is so important, PowerHit tickets that guarantee matching the Powerball are quite popular, as they can elevate your chances of hitting higher divisions.

Remember, if you’re only matching the numbers from the first barrel, you need at least five correct picks.

Still have questions?

Find out Everything You Need To Know About Powerball.

Learn about how to play Powerball.

Wondering how many Australians have won? Check out Australia’s Powerball winners & Powerball Prizes.