Australian Powerball: Official Guide, Rules, Odds & How to Play
Australia's biggest jackpot lottery — drawn every Thursday night
Draws every Thursday evening at approximately 8:30 PM AEST
What is Australian Powerball?
Australian Powerball is the largest and most popular lottery game in Australia, operated by The Lott (a consortium of state lottery operators). It was first introduced in 1996 and has since become a national institution, regularly producing life-changing jackpots for Australian players.
Draws are held every Thursday night at approximately 8:30 PM AEST. Players must select 7 numbers from 1–35 and 1 Powerball number from 1–20. To win Division 1 (the jackpot), players must match all 7 main numbers plus the Powerball.
Of every $1 spent on Australian Powerball tickets:
Key Australian Powerball statistics:
Did You Know?
Australia first held a national lottery game in 1931. The Powerball format was introduced on 23 May 1996. In February 2024, a massive jackpot of $200 million was won by a single ticket — the largest ever lottery prize in Australian history — making it one of the biggest lottery payouts in the world. Australia's geographic spread means players participate from every state and territory, making it truly a national event.
How to Play Australian Powerball?
Players select 7 numbers from 1–35 and 1 Powerball number from 1–20. The Powerball number is drawn from a separate barrel. You win a prize if you match at least 2 main numbers plus the Powerball. The more numbers matched, the higher the prize tier.
Pick 7 numbers from 1 to 35. You can choose your own numbers or use QuickPick for random selection.
Choose 1 Powerball number from 1 to 20. This is drawn from a separate barrel and determines the top prize divisions.
A Standard game covers 1 game panel. A System entry covers all combinations of extra numbers for better odds.
Watch the draw every Thursday from ~8:30 PM AEST. Check results online via our website, or The Lott website or app.
Prizes up to $1,500 can be claimed at any authorised outlet. Larger prizes require a claim form submitted to your state lottery office.
Odds to Win Australian Powerball Prizes
Australian Powerball offers excellent overall odds with a 1 in 44 chance to win any prize. The table below shows all 9 prize divisions, the numbers required to win, and the approximate odds.
| Division | Match Numbers | Odds (1 in) | Jackpot? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1 | 7 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 134,490,400 | ✅ Yes |
| Division 2 | 7 numbers | 1 in 7,078,443 | — |
| Division 3 | 6 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 686,176 | — |
| Division 4 | 6 numbers | 1 in 36,115 | — |
| Division 5 | 5 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 16,943 | — |
| Division 6 | 5 numbers | 1 in 892 | — |
| Division 7 | 4 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 1,173 | — |
| Division 8 | 3 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 188 | — |
| Division 9 | 2 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 44 | — |
Historical Prize Breakdown
Average prize amounts per division based on draws over the past 12 months (approximate values in AUD):
| Division / Numbers | Min Prize | Avg Prize | Max Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1 (7 + PB) | $3,000,000 | $50,140,000 | $200,000,000 |
| Division 2 (7) | $134,611 | $281,344 | $1,400,000 |
| Division 3 (6 + PB) | $7,419 | $11,038 | $28,900 |
| Division 4 (6) | $591 | $721 | $1,150 |
| Division 5 (5 + PB) | $162 | $218 | $410 |
| Division 6 (5) | $49 | $55 | $82 |
| Division 7 (4 + PB) | $36 | $41 | $67 |
| Division 8 (3 + PB) | $20 | $20 | $20 |
| Division 9 (2 + PB) | $9 | $9 | $9 |
* Division 8 and 9 prizes are fixed. Division 1–7 prizes are parimutuel (split among all winners in that division).
Winning vs Losing Combinations
The table below shows the total number of possible combinations and breaks down how many result in winning vs non-winning outcomes across all 9 prize divisions.
Winning Probability Calculations
In Australian Powerball, players choose 7 numbers from 1–35 and 1 Powerball from 1–20. Here is how the total number of combinations is calculated for each prize tier:
C(35,7) × C(20,1) = 6,724,520 × 20 = 134,490,400
Winning Combinations Breakdown
Below are the winning combinations for each division along with their calculations:
| Prize Tier | Winning Combinations | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Division 1 (7 + PB) | 1 | C(7,7) × C(28,0) × C(1,1) = 1 |
| Division 2 (7, no PB) | 19 | C(7,7) × C(28,0) × C(19,1) = 19 |
| Division 3 (6 + PB) | 196 | C(7,6) × C(28,1) × C(1,1) = 196 |
| Division 4 (6, no PB) | 3,724 | C(7,6) × C(28,1) × C(19,1) = 3,724 |
| Division 5 (5 + PB) | 7,938 | C(7,5) × C(28,2) × C(1,1) = 7,938 |
| Division 6 (5, no PB) | 150,822 | C(7,5) × C(28,2) × C(19,1) = 150,822 |
| Division 7 (4 + PB) | 114,660 | C(7,4) × C(28,3) × C(1,1) = 114,660 |
| Division 8 (3 + PB) | 714,780 | C(7,3) × C(28,4) × C(1,1) = 714,780 |
| Division 9 (2 + PB) | 5,104,878 | C(7,2) × C(28,5) × C(1,1) = 5,104,878 |
Non-Winning Combinations
Combinations that result in no prize: 134,490,400 − 6,096,454 = 128,393,946
Conclusion: There are 6,096,454 ways to win any prize in Australian Powerball, meaning approximately 1 in every 22 combinations results in a prize. Due to the pari-mutuel prize structure, Division 1 prizes rollover and accumulate when unclaimed, leading to some of the world's largest lottery jackpots.
Ready to Play Australia's Favourite Lottery?
Enter Australian Powerball online for your chance to win a life-changing jackpot every Thursday night!
Buy Powerball Tickets NowHistorical Changes & Evolution
A single ticket from Victoria claimed the $200 million Powerball jackpot — the largest ever lottery prize in Australian history. The draw attracted record ticket sales across the country, with millions of Australians participating. Digital ticket sales accounted for over 60% of all entries for that draw.
The number matrix changed to the current 7 from 35 + Powerball from 1–20 structure, making Division 1 harder to win but ensuring bigger jackpot pools. This led to more rollovers and a steady increase in jackpot sizes. The minimum guaranteed jackpot was set at $3 million.
Expanded Powerball pool from 1–10 to 1–20 to increase jackpot frequency and rollover potential. Introduced new prize divisions to compensate for lower overall odds. Minimum jackpot was raised from $1 million to $3 million. The change proved popular, drawing record participation levels.
Total prize divisions expanded from 6 to 9, providing more winners per draw. Lower divisions (Div 8 & 9) were given fixed prize amounts to ensure consistent payouts. The overall odds of winning any prize improved to 1 in 44. A larger jackpot percentage was allocated to Division 1.
Guaranteed Superdraws were introduced to offer pre-set jackpot amounts regardless of ticket sales. These events regularly offer jackpots of $20M, $30M, or $50M. Special draws are held several times per year and consistently produce the highest ticket sales of any draw.
Australian Powerball launched on 23 May 1996, operated by the Golden Casket Corporation in Queensland and subsequently adopted by all state and territory lottery operators. The original format featured 6 numbers from 1–45 plus a Powerball. The game was an immediate success, selling millions of tickets in its first year.
⭐ Special Draws
Australian Powerball regularly hosts guaranteed jackpot events throughout the year. These always attract record participation and are some of the most anticipated lottery events in Australia.
Guaranteed jackpots of $20M–$50M. Held several times per year, announced well in advance. All standard prizes still apply below Division 1.
Held on special occasions such as New Year's and major holidays. Jackpots can reach $100M+. Historically some of Australia's highest-selling lotto draws, with queues at retailers nationwide.