MULTI-STATE LOTTERY ASSOCIATION – POWERBALL GROUP RULES
Multi-State Lottery Association – Powerball Rules – Amended June 16, 2022; Comments last updated February 4, 2021.
(c) Pari-Mutuel Powerball Prize Determinations. Except as provided for in
36.3(1)(c)(1)(c), for Party Lotteries:
Amended December 10, 2014; May 22, 2015 to be effective with the October 7, 2015 drawing.
(1)(a) If the total of the Powerball Set Prizes (as multiplied by the respective Power
Play multiplier if applicable) awarded in a Drawing exceeds the percentage of the prize pool
allocated to the Powerball Set Prizes, then the amount needed to fund the Powerball Set Prizes,
including Power Play prizes, awarded shall be drawn from the following sources, in the following
order:
(i) the amount available in the SPP and the Power Play Prize Pool, if any;
(ii) an amount from the SPRA, if available, not to exceed forty million
dollars ($40,000,000.00) per Drawing; and
(iii) other amounts as agreed to by the Product Group in its sole discretion.
Amended June 25, 2013 effective October 1, 2013; December 10, 2014; December 30, 2014; May 22,
2015 to be effective with the October 7, 2015 drawing; June 15, 2016 to be effective with the drawing on
October 19, 2016.
(1)(b) If, after these sources are depleted, there are not sufficient funds to pay the
Set Prizes awarded, including Power Play prizes, then the highest Set Prize shall become a pari-
mutuel prize. If the amount of the highest Set Prize, when paid on a pari-mutuel basis, drops to or
below the next highest Set Prize and there are still not sufficient funds to pay the remaining Set
Prizes awarded, then the next highest Set Prize, including Power Play prizes, shall become a pari-
mutuel prize. This procedure shall continue down through all Set Prize levels, if necessary, until
all Set Prize levels become pari-mutuel prize levels; In that circumstance, the money available
from the funding sources listed in this rule shall be divided among the winning PB Plays in
proportion to their respective prize percentages. Powerball Set Prizes and Power Play prizes will
be reduced by the same percentage.
Amended January 13, 1998; May 4, 2005; December 8-9, 2009; June 14, 2011 and October 25, 2011 to
be effective for draws beginning January 18, 2012; November 15, 2012; June 25, 2013 effective October
1, 2013; June 5, 2014; December 10, 2014; December 30, 2014; May 22, 2015 to be effective with the
October 7, 2015 drawing; September 12, 2017, January 4, 2018, and April 5, 2018 to be effective with the
drawing on September 15, 2018.
(1)(c) By agreement with the Licensee Lotteries, the Licensee Lotteries shall
independently calculate their Set Prize pari-mutuel prize amounts. The Party Lotteries and the
Licensee Lotteries shall then agree to set the pari-mutuel prize amounts for all lotteries selling the
game at the lesser of the independently calculated prize amounts.
Amended June 25, 2013 effective October 1, 2013; December 10, 2014.
Comment. The California Lottery is excluded from the Party Lotteries’ and other Licensee
Lotteries’ pari-mutuel prize calculations.
(2) Licensee Lotteries. Licensee Lotteries shall adhere to PB Rule36.3(1)(c)(1)(a)
and (b) unless a different process is approved by the Product Group.
Adopted December 8-9, 2009. Amended June 25, 2013 to be effective October 1, 2013; December 10,
2014; May 22, 2015 to be effective with the October 7, 2015 drawing.
Comment. The California Lottery is excluded from the Party Lotteries’ and other Licensee
Lotteries’ pari-mutuel prize calculations. At its meeting on December 8-9, 2009, and under the terms of
the Cross-Selling Agreement, the Product Group agreed to exclude the Licensed Lotteries from contributing
to the prize pool accounts (other than the GPP) and prize reserve accounts with the agreement of the
Licensed Lotteries to be responsible for the payment of their shares of all prizes won subject to the
agreement noted in 28.3(1)(c)(1)(c).
Comment last modified October 22, 2015 to be effective with the February 3, 2016 drawing.