Louisville, Ky. (WDRB) -- Powerball players are ready for big changes and bigger jackpots. Ticket prices doubled to $2 beginning with Wednesday night's drawing.
Lottery officials hope this will entice more people to play because jackpots are getting bigger and the odds of winning are improving. Kentucky Lottery spokesman Chip Polston says the move is a strategy to differentiate the game from Mega Millions.
Both games are sold in 42 states. But hopes are that players will embrace the Powerball changes. With the changes, the starting jackpot doubles from $20 million to $40 million. Jackpots increase by a minimum of $10 million with each roll. and odds of winning the jackpot will improve from 1 in 195.2 million.
Players will also find a bigger second prize for drawings. The Match 5 prize increases from $200,000 to $1 million. And the Powerball-only prize will increase from $3 to $4.
The number of red Powerball numbers is being reduced by four, but the number of white ball numbers remains the same. So, players will select five white ball numbers from a field of 59 and one red Powerball number from a field of 35.
Powerball is played in 42 States, Washington D.C. and the US Virgin Islands.
To find out more about the Kentucky Lottery, click here.
