Powerball (Australia)
Powerball is a lottery operated by New South Wales Lotteries in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Tattersalls in Victoria and Tasmania, Golden Casket in Queensland, South Australia Lotteries Commission for South Australia and Lotterywest in Western Australia.
Australian Powerball is similar to Powerball operated in the United States. Five regular numbers are picked from one pool of 45, with the Powerball drawn from a separate pool of 45 numbers. The jackpot typically maxes out at A$33 million, with usually only one first division winner. However, there are major differences between the US and Australian versions; in the US, a ticket automatically wins by matching the Powerball (the US game has only 39[1] possible Powerballs) while in Australia three numbers are needed (three of the five regular numbers, or two plus the Powerball.) The US jackpot is annuitized (with a cash option) while Australians always collect in lump sum. Finally, US lottery prizes are taxable, whilst there are no taxes collected on Australian Powerball winners.
Still another difference is that all Australian Powerball prizes are parimutuel, versus fixed prizes on a US$1 wager in the states (e.g. US$3 for matching Powerball only; US$4 for 1+PB, etc.) on non-jackpot prizes.
The host of Powerball is Troy Ellis, with the draw broadcast on television when the Division 1 jackpot is over $15 Million.
Contents |
[edit] Records
On 1 March 2007, the Jackpot (Division 1) was $33 million, the highest ever prize given out in a drawing.
On 5 June 2008, the Jackpot (Division 1) was $58,737,207.41, the highest ever prize jackpot in Australian history at the time, (since passed by Oz Lotto with a $90 million Jackpot on 30 June 2009).
On 30 July 2009, the Jackpot (Division 1) was $80 million, the highest Powerball prize in history.[2]
[edit] Odds
| Division | What you need in a single game panel | Odds based on 12 games |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 Numbers plus Powerball | 4,581,596:1 |
| 2 | 5 Numbers | 104,127:1 |
| 3 | 4 Numbers plus Powerball | 22,908:1 |
| 4 | 3 Numbers plus Powerball | 587:1 |
| 5 | 4 Numbers | 521:1 |
| 6 | 2 Numbers plus Powerball | 46:1 |
| 7 | 3 Numbers | 13:1 |
[edit] External links
- Powerball in New South Wales
- Powerball in Queensland
- Powerball in South Australia
- Powerball in Western Australia
- Powerball in Victoria & Tasmania
[edit] References
- ^ http://powerball.com/powerball/pb_howtoplay.asp
- ^ news.com.au Powerball jackpot hits record $80 million Retrieved 2009-07-30
