Powerball FAQS
Have you got questions about how to play the Powerball lottery in California? Then why not review our Powerball FAQs to find in-depth answers to the most frequently asked questions. We've covered everything from how to enter the draw, through to how to claim your prize, should you be a lucky Golden State winner!
Powerball draws are held three times per week. They take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 7:59 PM PT.
You need to pick five main numbers between 1 and 69, and a Powerball number from 1 to 26. If you prefer using a random set of numbers, you can ask for a Quick Pick ticket. For more details about how you can get involved in the Powerball game, please visit the How to Play page.
As in most states, the deadline for entering Powerball is usually one hour before the draw time on the day. In California, the cut-off time is at 7:00 PM on the day of the draw.
An entry costs $2.
Yes, you can enter up to 10 consecutive draws on the same playslip using the same set of numbers. You just need to mark the 'Advance Play' box on your ticket.
The starting Powerball jackpot is $20 million and it will keep on adding up until someone matches all the winning numbers.
No, there is no rollover limit or jackpot cap for this game. The grand prize will simply keep on growing until it is won.
The record-breaking Powerball jackpot was actually won here, in the Golden State, back in November 2022. There was a single winning ticket which matched all the winning numbers and it belonged to Edwin Castro, who purchased it at a gas station in Altadena. The grand prize was worth an impressive $2.04 billion and Castro claimed the cash option of $997 million. You can read more about some of the biggest amounts won in California on the Winners page.
The overall odds of winning a Powerball prize are 1 in 24.87, and the odds of winning the first prize are 1 in 292,201,338. For the odds of winning the other prizes, you can check out the Odds and Prizes page.
According to the California Lottery, you must claim your prize within 180 days of the draw date. You have multiple options for claiming your prize and you can choose the best one for you, depending on the amount you won. Check out the How to Claim page for more information.