The Powerball Lotto is one of Australia’s most successful lotteries. This lottery has undergone significant changes in its time, and was re-launched in March 2013, with a new format and larger prizes than ever before.
Unlike other Powerball lotteries in the world, the Australian Powerball Lotto always pays out in lump sums, whilst other countries choose to pay their players in smaller cash instalments. The new Powerball Lotto also contains non-fixed prizes, meaning that what a player may win for a winning combination one week, may be quite different the week later.
Another difference between the Australian Powerball Lotto and other Powerball lotteries is that players can’t win by just matching the Powerball. They must also match two other numbers in the Australian Powerball Lotto game. The highest recorded win in the Powerball Lotto game goes back to 2009, when one Australian player won a total of AUD$80 million.
How to play the Australian Powerball Lotto
The rules have changed in the Powerball Lotto. Now, a total of 6 numbers are drawn from a total pot of 40. One Powerball number is also drawn from a total of 20. As we’ve said, in order to win, a player must land at least 2 of the regular lottery numbers, as well as match the Powerball number. Powerball draws only take place every Thursday, and only appear on television if the total pot is worth AUD$15 million or more.
Prizes
As for the Powerball Lotto prizes, these are divided up into divisions, just like all other major Australian lottery games. Each division prize is awarded a percentage of the prize pool available for each lottery game.
Division 1 prizes pay out 40% of the prize pool, and players must match 6 balls and the Powerball to land that prize. Division 2 prizes offer 3.25% of the prize pool, if player’s match all 6 balls. Division 3 and Division 4 prizes can see players win 3.4% and 1.9% of the prize pool, for matching 5 balls and the Powerball, or just the 5 balls, respectively.
Division 5 prizes are worth 1.45% of the prize pool, if players land 4 balls and a Powerball. If you are fortunate enough to land a Division 6 prize (for 3 balls and a Powerball), you’ll win 12.65% of the pool. Division 7 prizes pay out 11.35% of the prize pool for matching 4 balls, whilst Division 8 prizes offer 26% of the prize pool, for 2 balls and a Powerball.
Lotto Atlas recommends playing the Powerball Lotto on The Lotter
You don’t have to live in Australia to play the Powerball Lotto. Here at Lotto Atlas, we’d actually recommend joining The Lotter website. This worldwide website allows you to purchase tickets to any of the world’s major lotteries, without actually living in their country of origin.
Players can purchase tickets for just a little bit more than they would cost in Australia (due to a small handling fee), and The Lotter will send you your tickets via e-mail. If you win, you can transfer your winnings from The Lotter to your bank account with no trouble at all.
And finally…
The Oz Lotto may be Australia’s number one national lottery, but it has its drawbacks. Players must predict 7 balls to win that. Players have more of a chance predicting the six numbers plus the Powerball. Given that, the Lotto Atlas would recommend playing the Powerball Lotto over the Oz Lotto, if you don’t mind competing for a prize pool which is slightly smaller than the aforementioned national lottery. One of the best things about the Powerball Lotto, is that you don’t necessarily need to match all six numbers, in order to win big.