Double Play and Power Play may sound similar, but they do two completely different things in US PowerBall.
Double Play gives your PowerBall numbers a second, separate draw with a top prize of $10 million.
Power Play does not give you another draw. Instead, it can multiply qualifying prizes you win in the main PowerBall draw.
That distinction is easy to miss — particularly when all three terms appear together:
- PowerBall
- Double Play
- Power Play
So what exactly happens when you add Double Play? Can you win both drawings? Does Power Play multiply the $10 million Double Play prize? And which feature gives you another chance with the same numbers?
Here is the simple explanation.
PowerBall, Double Play and Power Play at a Glance
| Feature | What It Does |
|---|---|
| PowerBall | The main US lottery drawing with the rolling jackpot |
| Double Play | Uses the same numbers in a separate second drawing with a $10 million top prize |
| Power Play | Multiplies qualifying non-jackpot prizes in the main PowerBall draw |
The easiest way to remember the difference is:
Double Play = another draw.
Power Play = a prize multiplier.
How Does the Main US PowerBall Game Work?
A standard US PowerBall entry uses:
- 5 white-ball numbers from 1 to 69; and
- 1 red PowerBall from 1 to 26.
To win the main jackpot, all five white balls plus the red PowerBall must match the numbers drawn.
The official jackpot odds are:
1 in 292,201,338
PowerBall also has eight lower prize categories, giving nine ways to win in the main game.
The overall official odds of winning any main-game prize are approximately:
1 in 24.87
MagicLotto customers can view available entries on the US PowerBall page.
What Is PowerBall Double Play?
Double Play is a separate second drawing using the same PowerBall numbers.
You do not need to select another five white balls and another PowerBall.
Your existing numbers are entered into the separate Double Play draw when the feature is included with the eligible ticket.
The Double Play drawing takes place after the main PowerBall drawing every:
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Saturday
The most important difference is that Double Play does not have a rolling jackpot.
Its top cash prize is fixed at:
$10 million.
Does Double Play Use Different Winning Numbers?
Yes.
Your selected numbers remain the same, but Double Play conducts a completely separate drawing.
For example, imagine your entry is:
8, 19, 27, 42, 63 + PowerBall 11
Those numbers are checked against the winning numbers from the main PowerBall draw.
If Double Play is included, the same numbers are then checked against a different set of numbers drawn in the Double Play drawing.
That is why Double Play creates another independent opportunity with the same selected combination.
Can You Win Both PowerBall and Double Play?
Yes.
An eligible ticket containing Double Play can win a prize in the main PowerBall drawing, the Double Play drawing, or both.
The two drawings are separate.
Winning something in the main draw does not prevent the same ticket from also winning in Double Play.
Likewise, missing the main PowerBall result does not mean your numbers cannot subsequently win in Double Play.
How Much Can You Win With Double Play?
Double Play has nine prize levels.
| Match | Double Play Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + PowerBall | $10,000,000 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| 5 | $500,000 | 1 in 11,688,053.52 |
| 4 + PowerBall | $50,000 | 1 in 913,129.18 |
| 4 | $500 | 1 in 36,525.17 |
| 3 + PowerBall | $500 | 1 in 14,494.11 |
| 3 | $20 | 1 in 579.76 |
| 2 + PowerBall | $20 | 1 in 701.33 |
| 1 + PowerBall | $10 | 1 in 91.98 |
| PowerBall only | $7 | 1 in 38.32 |
Unlike the main PowerBall jackpot, the Double Play top prize does not roll upward after a draw without a top-prize winner.
Are the Double Play Jackpot Odds Better?
No.
Double Play uses the same 5-from-69 plus 1-from-26 number matrix.
Matching all five white balls plus the PowerBall therefore still has odds of:
1 in 292,201,338.
The difference is the prize.
In the main draw, that combination wins the advertised rolling jackpot.
In Double Play, the same level of match wins the fixed $10 million top prize.
What Is Power Play?
Power Play is a multiplier — not another lottery drawing.
When Power Play is included on an eligible PowerBall entry, a separate multiplier determines how qualifying prizes from the main PowerBall drawing are increased.
The standard possible multipliers are:
- 2X
- 3X
- 4X
- 5X
A 10X multiplier can also be available under specific jackpot conditions.
When Is the PowerBall 10X Multiplier Available?
The official rule is particularly useful to know:
10X is available only when the advertised PowerBall jackpot is $150 million or less.
When the jackpot exceeds $150 million, the possible Power Play multipliers are limited to:
2X, 3X, 4X and 5X.
So a larger PowerBall jackpot can actually mean the 10X Power Play multiplier is not available for that draw.
Does Power Play Multiply the Jackpot?
No.
If you match all five white balls plus the PowerBall, you win the applicable main jackpot.
Power Play does not multiply that jackpot.
A hypothetical $500 million jackpot with a 5X Power Play does not become $2.5 billion.
What Happens If You Match Five White Balls With Power Play?
This prize works differently from the other lower-tier prizes.
Matching all five white balls without the PowerBall normally pays:
$1 million.
With Power Play, that prize becomes:
$2 million.
It does not become $3 million, $4 million, $5 million or $10 million depending on the multiplier drawn.
The Match 5 Power Play prize is fixed at $2 million under the standard official prize structure.
How Does Power Play Affect Other PowerBall Prizes?
Consider the prize for matching four white balls plus the PowerBall.
The standard prize is:
$50,000.
Depending on the Power Play multiplier, that could become:
- 2X = $100,000
- 3X = $150,000
- 4X = $200,000
- 5X = $250,000
- 10X = $500,000, when 10X is available
This is what Power Play is designed to do: increase qualifying non-jackpot prizes from the main drawing.
Does Power Play Multiply Double Play Winnings?
No.
This is probably the most important rule to remember when comparing the two features.
The official PowerBall rules specifically state that:
Power Play does not apply to prizes won in the Double Play drawing.
If your Double Play combination wins $500,000, a 5X Power Play multiplier does not turn it into $2.5 million.
The Double Play prize remains $500,000.
Can a Ticket Have Both Double Play and Power Play?
Yes, where both features are available for the official ticket being purchased.
A PowerBall ticket can include both features.
They still operate independently:
- Power Play applies to qualifying prizes from the main PowerBall draw.
- Double Play enters the same numbers into the separate Double Play draw.
- Power Play does not multiply Double Play prizes.
Is Double Play Available Everywhere in America?
No.
Double Play is not offered by every participating PowerBall lottery.
According to current official PowerBall information, 30 lottery jurisdictions offer the Double Play add-on.
This matters for international ticket-messenger services because availability depends on the jurisdiction where the underlying official ticket is purchased.
MagicLotto customers should therefore use the options currently displayed on the US PowerBall entry page rather than assuming every optional feature is available for every draw.
Which Is Better: Double Play or Power Play?
They are designed for different purposes, so neither is inherently "better".
Double Play is for someone who wants the same numbers checked against a second independent draw.
Power Play is for someone who wants qualifying prizes from the main draw multiplied if the entry wins.
The distinction is:
more drawing opportunity versus potentially larger qualifying main-draw prizes.
Neither feature changes the probability of your selected numbers matching the winning combination in the main PowerBall drawing.
Does Double Play Double Your Chance of Winning the Main Jackpot?
No.
Double Play does not give you a second chance at the main rolling PowerBall jackpot.
It gives the same numbers a chance in a separate drawing whose top prize is $10 million.
The two top prizes are therefore fundamentally different:
- Main PowerBall: rolling advertised jackpot
- Double Play: fixed $10 million top prize
Does Power Play Improve Your Odds of Winning?
No.
Power Play changes how much a qualifying prize can pay.
It does not make your numbers more likely to match the balls drawn.
The main PowerBall jackpot odds remain:
1 in 292,201,338.
What Are the Current PowerBall Draw Days?
The main US PowerBall drawing takes place three times per week:
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Saturday
Double Play drawings are held after the corresponding main drawings where the feature is offered.
For South African customers, the official US draw occurs overnight because of the time-zone difference.
Always use the closing time shown on the MagicLotto entry page when purchasing an available draw rather than relying on a remembered US draw time.
How Do I Check US PowerBall and Double Play Results?
MagicLotto publishes the latest US PowerBall results and supports both PowerBall and Double Play result tracking.
You can also browse all supported draws through the MagicLotto Lottery Results hub.
If you need to compare numbers manually, use the MagicLotto Lotto Ticket Checker.
Entries stored in a MagicLotto customer account are checked automatically when results are processed.
Are Hot PowerBall Numbers More Likely to Win Double Play?
No.
The same principle applies to both drawings.
Previous results do not cause a particular number to become more likely in an independent future draw.
A number can appear in the main PowerBall drawing and theoretically appear again in the subsequent Double Play drawing.
Likewise, a number that has not appeared recently is not mathematically "due".
If you enjoy analysing historical number frequency, explore MagicLotto Hot & Cold Numbers, but treat the information as historical statistics rather than a prediction system.
Can I Play a Smaller Share of a US PowerBall Ticket?
Yes. MagicLotto also offers US PowerBall Mini Tickets.
A Mini Ticket gives you a fractional share of an official ticket rather than ownership of the entire ticket.
MagicLotto Mini Tickets are divided into 10 shares, so each share represents 10% of the ticket.
If that ticket wins, the prize attributable to it is shared according to the percentage held.
This provides a lower-entry participation option for customers who prefer not to purchase the full international ticket.
Are US PowerBall Winnings Taxed?
US lottery prizes require more tax consideration than many other international lotteries.
Tax treatment can depend on the jurisdiction where the official ticket was purchased, the size of the prize and the winner's tax status.
The advertised jackpot should therefore not automatically be treated as the amount an international winner would ultimately receive.
There is also an important distinction between the advertised annuity jackpot and its cash option.
Read the MagicLotto Lottery Tax Guide for general information about international lottery taxation.
Anyone fortunate enough to win a substantial US lottery prize should obtain professional tax and legal advice appropriate to the specific winning ticket and their circumstances.
PowerBall Double Play vs Power Play: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Double Play the same as Power Play?
No. Double Play is a separate second drawing. Power Play is a multiplier for qualifying prizes won in the main PowerBall drawing.
What is the Double Play top prize?
The Double Play top cash prize is $10 million.
Does Double Play use my same PowerBall numbers?
Yes. The same five white-ball numbers and PowerBall are used in the separate Double Play drawing.
Are different numbers drawn for Double Play?
Yes. Double Play conducts its own independent drawing after the main PowerBall drawing.
Can I win PowerBall and Double Play on the same ticket?
Yes. An eligible ticket can win in either drawing or potentially both.
Does Power Play multiply Double Play prizes?
No. Power Play does not apply to prizes won in the Double Play drawing.
Can I use both Power Play and Double Play?
Yes, where both options are available for the underlying official ticket. The features remain separate.
Does Power Play multiply the PowerBall jackpot?
No. Power Play does not multiply the main jackpot.
When is the 10X Power Play available?
The 10X multiplier is available only when the advertised PowerBall jackpot is $150 million or less.
What are the US PowerBall jackpot odds?
The official jackpot odds are 1 in 292,201,338.
Are the Double Play top-prize odds the same?
Yes. Because Double Play uses the same number matrix, matching all five white balls plus the PowerBall also has odds of 1 in 292,201,338. The top prize, however, is fixed at $10 million rather than being the main rolling jackpot.
Can South Africans play US PowerBall through MagicLotto?
Yes. MagicLotto supports US PowerBall through its independent international ticket-messenger service, subject to availability and the applicable official ticket rules.
The Bottom Line
The simplest way to understand US PowerBall's optional features is:
Double Play = second draw.
Power Play = prize multiplier.
Double Play uses your same numbers in a separate drawing with a fixed $10 million top prize.
Power Play can multiply qualifying prizes from the main PowerBall drawing, but it does not multiply the jackpot and it does not multiply Double Play winnings.
Both features can exist on the same eligible ticket, but they perform completely different jobs.
Neither feature makes your selected numbers more likely to match the main PowerBall draw.
Understanding that difference lets you decide which available option suits the way you want to participate — without confusing another draw with a prize multiplier.
Ready for the Next US PowerBall Draw?
Choose your numbers or use QuickPick on the MagicLotto US PowerBall page and view the currently available PowerBall and Double Play options.
Prefer a smaller participation amount? Explore US PowerBall Mini Tickets.
After the draw, check the latest US PowerBall results.
MagicLotto is an independent lottery ticket-messenger service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Powerball or the Multi-State Lottery Association. Optional features depend on the jurisdiction in which the applicable official ticket is purchased and may not always be available. Lottery games involve chance and winning is never guaranteed. 18+ only. Please play responsibly.