Powerball (Australia)

Powerball is a lottery operated by Tatts Group (formerly Tattersalls) under the master brand, the Lott and its licensed subsidiaries including New South Wales Lotteries in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, Tattersalls in Victoria and Tasmania, Golden Casket in Queensland, and South Australian Lotteries in South Australia. The Government owned Lotterywest operates the lottery in Western Australia.

Powerball in Australia started in 1996 as a Tattersalls two barrel lotto-type gambling game, four years after the game of the same name had started in the USA. 5 balls were drawn from the first barrel which contained 45 balls, then the single Powerball was drawn from a barrel also containing 45 balls, with the odds of winning the top prize 1 in 54,979,155.

The highest Australian Powerball jackpot was A$200 million on 1 February 2024 and was shared by two ticket holders. The biggest individual Powerball jackpot won by one ticket is A$150 million, won in May 2024. Most jackpot wins are not shared by multiple tickets. A minimum of three numbers is needed, those being two regular numbers plus the Powerball. Winners always collect in lump sum parimutuel winnings.

The game was first revamped on 1 March 2013; drawing six regular numbers from 40 balls plus a Powerball using 20 balls increasing the odds of winning the top prize to 1 in 76,767,600. This also allowed the introduction of an 8th prize Division (two main numbers plus the Powerball). Other changes include an increase of 10c per play, and the introduction of an option (QuickHit40) which will "wheel" the 40 Powerballs although not guaranteeing a prize.

The current Powerball format was introduced on 19 April 2018, using two Smartplay Halogen II draw machines with the intention of offering bigger jackpots and creating more overall winners. In each draw, seven regular numbers are selected from a pool of 35, while the additional Powerball continues to be drawn from a separate pool of 20 balls. This format substantially increased the odds of winning the top prize to 1 in 134,490,400. A new, 9th Prize Division was added. To enable the new format, the cost of Powerball entries was increased.