Pennsylvania Powerball® to Offer Better Odds, Bigger Jackpots Starting Jan. 15

MIDDLETOWN, Pa., Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate Powerball's 20th anniversary, the game is being redesigned beginning Jan. 15 to offer bigger starting jackpots, feature better odds of winning and create more millionaire winners.

"We are thrilled to introduce the redesigned version of Powerball, which delivers more value for players," said Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Todd Rucci. "Game improvements will make jackpots grow faster and deliver bigger prizes to even more Pennsylvania Powerball players."

Powerball's starting jackpot will double from $20 million to $40 million. Powerball also will increase the second, match-five prize from $200,000 to $1 million, and the lowest prize for matching only the red Powerball will increase from $3 to $4.

Players in the newly designed game will still choose their first five numbers from a pool of 59, but the group of numbers in the Powerball pool will shrink from 39 to 35, producing better overall odds of winning a prize in the game. Players today have a 1-in-35 overall chance of winning a prize, which will improve to 1-in-31.8, beginning Sunday. Odds of winning a jackpot prize will improve from 1-in-195 million to 1-in-175 million.

In order to support the game enhancements for players, Powerball tickets will cost $2 each beginning Jan. 15. The cost to add the Power Play® multiplier feature will remain an extra $1 per play. For that additional $1, players have the chance to win $2 million cash for the match-five prize.

Mega Millions®, instant games and a number of Pennsylvania Lottery terminal-based games will continue to offer exciting options for players who prefer the $1 price point. 

Powerball tickets for the new, enhanced version of the game will go on sale beginning Sunday, Jan. 15. At that time, players will again be able to purchase up to 13 weeks (26 draws) of advance-play tickets. 

"Our Lottery portfolio is all about variety, so we're excited that these changes will differentiate Powerball from our other games and appeal to players with even bigger prizes," said Rucci. "These changes also provide an opportunity for expanded Powerball sales, which will help to boost profits to support funding for programs that provide low-cost prescription drugs, transportation assistance, long-term living services, property tax and rent rebates, and various social, educational and other activities that keep our older residents active and engaged."

Since joining the multi-jurisdictional game in June 2002, the Pennsylvania Lottery has sold 14 jackpot-winning Powerball tickets totaling nearly $592 million.

Powerball tickets are sold in 44 participating jurisdictions. Drawings are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed nearly $21.5 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds its players to play responsibly. Players must be 18 or older.

For more information, visit www.palottery.com, log in to Facebook and like us at www.facebook.com/palottery or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery. 

Media contact: Allison Roberts, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery