2005 Press Releases

CHANGES TO POWERBALL® WILL CREATE LARGER JACKPOTS STARTING AUGUST 28, 2005

Dover, DE --The 29 lotteries that operate POWERBALL® voted this past April to change the nation's first big, multi-state jackpot game to meet player demand for larger and faster growing jackpots. The new changes take effect Sunday, August 28, 2005, will offer larger jackpots and the potential for creating many first-time $1 million winners from players selecting the Power Play multiplier with their POWERBALL® tickets.

New changes to the POWERBALL® game will include a starting jackpot increased from $10 million to $15 million. In addition to the higher $15 million starting jackpot winners who match all five white balls (second prize level) will enjoy an increased cash award from $100,000 to $200,000. This increase will allow players who add the additional $1 for the Power Play option the opportunity to multiply their winnings by five and win up to $1 million.

From the time POWERBALL® began in 1992, there have been four updates to the game structure. In order to offer these new adjustments, players will select five of 55, instead of five of 53 white balls. The player's selection from one of 42 numbers for the red POWERBALL option will remain unchanged. The overall odds of winning a cash prize will remain virtually the same, 1 in 36.60 up slightly from the current 1 in 36.06. Odds of winning a jackpot prize will change to 1 in 146.1 million from the current 1 in 120.5 million.

"Since the changes were made in response to POWERBALL® player preferences, we're confident that our players will respond positively to the changes," said Wayne Lemons, director of the Delaware Lottery. "We're very excited about these new changes to POWERBALL® and the potential for Delaware players to have more winning experiences."

Since the start of operations in 1975, the Delaware Lottery has contributed more than
$2.1 billion to the state's General Fund to help finance needed state services that benefit everyone in Delaware. The Lottery offers a variety of games: POWERBALL®, MULTI-WIN LOTTO, PLAY 3, PLAY 4, and assorted Instant Games.