An historic agreement reached between Mega Millions states and POWERBALL states has created the largest market ever for jackpot games. Beginning Sunday, January 31, Michigan Lottery players will be able to purchase POWERBALL tickets at the nearly 11,000 retailers across the state who already sell Mega Millions tickets.

On that date, players in 32 other jurisdictions will also be able to purchase tickets for both POWERBALL and Mega Millions. The 33 jurisdictions represent a combined population of 199 million people and 147,000 retail outlets.

For just $1 per wager, POWERBALL offers players a new chance to win millions of dollars. In addition to the jackpot prize, there are eight different ways to win cash prizes and with the Power Play option, players could see their non-jackpot winnings multiplied. Jackpots will start at a guaranteed $20 million and increase as sales increase. Drawings will be conducted at 10:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday and players will have until 9:45 p.m. on the draw day to purchase their tickets.

To play, players will pick five numbers from 1 to 59, and 1 red POWERBALL number from 1 to 39. Like other Michigan Lottery games, there is the option to choose your numbers or request the computer generate "easy pick" numbers. Players will be able to purchase Powerball tickets for up to 60 consecutive drawings and play up to 10 panels per wager.

For an additional $1 per play, players will also be able to select a multiplier, Power Play, which would increase their winnings on lower-tier prizes, up to 5 times the original amount. A Power Play number of 2, 3, 4 or 5 will be drawn during each POWERBALL drawing. For example, if a player who has purchased the Power Play option matches the red Powerball number, normally a $3 winner, and the Power Play number comes up as a 5, the prize would be $15.

POWERBALL features nine different ways to win. Matching just the red Powerball wins $3; one white ball plus the red Powerball wins $4; two white balls plus the red Powerball wins $7; three white balls wins $7; three white balls plus the red Powerball wins $100; four white balls wins $100; four white balls plus the red Powerball wins $10,000; five white balls wins $200,000; and five white balls plus the red Powerball wins the jackpot prize.

Following the drawings, POWERBALL winning numbers will be posted on the Lottery's Web site, www.michigan.gov/lottery. Players can also view the drawings on broadcast stations across the state : Lansing (WLAJ-TV), Marquette/Escanaba (WJMN-TV) on tape delay, and Muskegon (WMXG-TV).

"Since the agreement to sell POWERBALL tickets was reached, we have been hard at work to bring the game to our players," said Lottery Commissioner M. Scott Bowen. "I look forward to presenting a check to the first Michigan POWERBALL jackpot winner."

Since POWERBALL's inception on February 10, 1988, and Mega Millions' inception on August 31, 1996, the games have generated an astonishing $17.6 billion for good causes, such as education, senior programs, local towns and the environment. With two large multi-state games, participating jurisdictions are expected to generate substantially more money for these good causes; in Michigan's case, the state School Aid Fund.

Over 98.5 cents of every dollar spent on Lottery tickets is returned to the state in the form of contributions to the state School Aid Fund, prizes to players and commissions to retailers. In fiscal year 2009, the contribution to schools was $724.5 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to education in Michigan.

If you would like to arrange an interview with a Lottery official to talk about POWERBALL, please call (517)335-5648, or email stahlam@michigan.gov .

For additional information on Mega Millions and unclaimed prizes, please visit the Lottery's Web site at www.michigan.gov/lottery.

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