What is Power Play and How does it Work with PowerBall?

Power Play is an additional feature with the USA PowerBall lottery which offers players the chance to boost their winnings. We take you through this Power Play option and explain exactly how it works, and how you can activate this feature when you play PowerBall online from Canada.

What is Power Play?

Power Play is an extra feature that players can choose to activate when they enter the American PowerBall draw. This optional extra was introduced on the 7th of March, 2001. The PowerPlay feature is a multiplier, which multiplies non-jackpot winnings by a random number. Originally that random number was between 1 and 5, although the 1x option was soon retired. PowerPlay itself was discontinued for a period between 2012 and 2014 as various rule changes to PowerBall were introduced. The PowerPlay option returned again on January 19th, 2014 and has been available ever since. Since 2015, a PowerPlay x10 multiplier has been available if the jackpot is less than $150 million. 

How Does the PowerBall Power Play Work?

If you wish to play PowerBall online from Canada you will be able to select the PowerPlay option to enhance lower tier winnings. Go to the Lottoland PowerBall page and select your 5 regular numbers and 1 PowerBall extra number as usual. At the bottom of the betslips you will see an option labelled 'Extra Game Powerplay'. Check this box and if you win the second tier prize your winnings will be multiplied up to $2 million CAD. Should you win a prize on tiers 3 through 9 then your winnings will be multiplied by either x2, x3, x4, x5 or x10 (the last only when the jackpot is lower than $150 million). 

PowerBall Power Play Holiday Bonus

From time to time, US PowerBall lottery operators introduce a PowerPlay Holiday Bonus for their players. This happens on a state-by-state basis and as such it depends where you buy your Powerball tickets. When the PowerPlay Holiday Bonus is available, every player who purchases the Power Play option with their ticket receives an extra ticket. This additional ticket has a unique number and enters the player into a raffle for cash prizes. For example, the Louisiana Lottery held Power Play Holiday Bonus draws for six weeks. Any Power Play tickets purchased during that period gave the purchaser entrance to a draw on the following Monday for a $10,000 prize. 

Canadians will have to purchase a ticket in a participating state in order to enter a PowerPlay Holiday Bonus draw. However, by playing online at Lottoland you get to take advantage of unique promotions and specially boosted PowerBall jackpots.