Powerball Winning Numbers - October 2012
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Florida Powerball lottery game and results
-
The Powerball drawing happens three times a week — every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
-
The draw takes place at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
-
Because of time-zone differences, this translates to late evening U.S. time.
Important to know for players
- Ticket sales typically close 1–2 hours before the drawing, though the exact cutoff depends on the state.
- The drawing is conducted at the lottery headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida — and the results are posted online shortly afterward.
-
A Powerball ticket costs US $2.
-
To play, you pick 5 “white ball” numbers from 1 to 69 and 1 “Powerball” number from 1 to 26.
-
Drawings occur three times a week — Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM Eastern Time (ET).
-
There are 9 prize tiers — you win something for matching as little as just the Powerball, but matching all 5 white balls + the Powerball wins the jackpot.
-
For an extra US $1, you can add “Power Play”, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2×, 3×, 4×, 5× or 10× (depending on the draw).
-
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338.
In Short
Buy a ticket, pick 6 numbers (5 white + 1 red), pay $2 (optionally $3 with Power Play), and wait for the draw. If your numbers match the draw — even partly, you can win one of several prize levels; match all and you hit the jackpot.