Australia Powerball might have tough odds, but it also has the distinction of being the biggest lottery game in all of Australia. It also happens to have tax-free prizes and jackpots that start at AU$3 million.
A popular national lottery, Australia Powerball has a history of offering some of the biggest jackpots in the country.
With easy gameplay and top prizes that compare favourably to some of the most popular lottos in the world, this game has a lot to offer.
In this guide, we’ll tell you how you can get started playing this fun national lottery and where you can buy Australia Powerball tickets online.
About Australia Powerball
Australia Powerball was launched in May 1996.
Itis operated by Tatts Group under the brand The Lott, and its subsidiaries, New South Wales Lotteries, Tattersalls, Golden Casket and South Australian Lottery. In Western Australia, it is operated by the government-owned Lotterywest.
The game has undergone a few changes over the years. The most recent change took place in April 2018 to create bigger jackpots and more overall winners.
Australia Powerball Draws
Australia Powerball is a weekly game with draws taking place every Thursday at 9:30 pm AEDT.
Players have until 8:30 pm AEDT on the night of the draw to purchase tickets.
During the draw, numbers are randomly selected using two Smartplay Halogen II machines.
How to Play Australia Powerball
Australia Powerball is very similar to its American counterpart, US Powerball, but has a smaller ball pool. This gives players better odds of winning the jackpot than with the American version.
Players must choose seven numbers from a main ball pool of numbers 1 through 35 and an additional Powerball from a ball pool of numbers 1 through 20.
To win the jackpot, a player must match all eight numbers, including the Powerball.
A single entry, or line, costs AU $1.70 when purchased within Australia.
Prize tiers for Australia Powerball are called Divisions, with the 1st Division being the jackpot tier.
There are nine Divisions in total, and each player has overall odds of 1 in 44 of winning any prize. These are pretty tough compared to some other popular lotto games.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 134,490,400.Theseare similar to those of the popular EuroMillions game, which has jackpot odds of 1 in 139,838,160.
None of the prize tiers are fixed, but are instead determined by a percentage of the shared prize fund.
Australia Powerball jackpots start at a minimum of AU $3 million and roll over to the next draw each time there is no winner.
There is no jackpot cap, but the prize can only roll over for a maximum of 25 consecutive draws. After this it rolls down to the next highest prize-tier winners.
The odds for each division and the estimated winnings per division are as follows:
Numbers Matched
Odds of Winning
Estimated Winnings
7 + Powerball
1 in 134,490,400
Jackpot
7
1 in 7,078,443
AU $114,991.40
6 + Powerball
1 in 686,176
AU $5,358.30
6
1 in 36,115
AU $453.40
5 + Powerball
1 in 16,943
AU $157.10
4 + Powerball
1 in 1,173
AU $70.40
5
1 in 892
AU $41.90
3 + Powerball
1 in 188
AU $17.40
2 + Powerball
1 in 66
AU $10.60
Claiming Australia Powerball Prizes
The deadline for claiming Australia Powerball prizes varies by region.
In Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, players have six months from the draw date to claim their prizes.
Players in Western Australia and Southern Australia have 12 months to claim their prizes, and players in New South Wales must claim their prize within six years of the draw.
All prizes are awarded as tax-free, lump-sum payments.
However, individuals who play Australia Powerball online through independent retailers may be subject to the tax laws of their country of residence.
Notable Australia Powerball Winners
Since the format change in April 2018, there have been multiple jackpots that have reached upwards of AU $100 million. These have often broken records and competed with Oz Lotto for the highest jackpot wins.
In January 2019, a single player won AU $107 million, beating the record for the biggest individual win in Australian jackpot history.
However, the biggest jackpot ever totalled AU $150 million and was shared by three players in September 2019.
It is the largest jackpot prize ever awarded in Australian lotto history.
Australia Powerball-Should You Play?
Australia Powerball might have some tough odds, but they are still competitive when compared to other international lotteries.
Overall, the large jackpots, easy gameplay and low ticket cost of Australia Powerball all have some great appeal, making it a lottery that is definitely worth trying.
How many numbers do you need to win Australia Powerball?
To win the jackpot, a player needs to match all seven main numbers and the additional Powerball number. The minimum amount of numbers that must be matched to win a prize is two main numbers plus the Powerball.
Are Australia Powerball prizes tax-free?
Yes, Australia Powerball prizes are tax-free for residents of Australia. However, individuals playing through online lotteries may be subject to the tax laws of their own country.
When do Australia Powerball draws take place?
Australia Powerball is a weekly draw that is held every Thursday at 9:30 pm AEDT.
What time do Australia Powerball ticket sales close?
Players can purchase tickets up until 8:30 pm AEDT, one hour before the draw.
How long do I have to claim an Australia Powerball prize?
The deadline for claiming Australia Powerball prizes varies by region. Players in Victoria, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory have six months from the date of the draw to claim their prizes, while players in Western Australia and Southern Australia have 12 months. Players from New South Wales have six year from the draw date to claim their prizes.
Comments
Todd
It's great that the odds of Oz Powerball are much better than the American Powerball, but let's face it: they're still anything but great.
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Todd