Powerball to Launch Enhanced Version

1 June 2005

MIDDLETOWN, Pennsylvania – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Sales for a new, enhanced version of the Powerball lottery game will begin on Sunday, August 28. The new game will feature the country's largest opening jackpot, faster growing jackpots and bigger second-tier prizes that will allow players matching five white ball numbers to win up to $1 million.

The Powerball opening jackpot will increase from $10 million to $15 million. Powerball's second-tier prize for matching five white ball numbers (without matching the red Powerball number) will double, increasing from the current $100,000 to $200,000. With the PowerPlay feature, players who match five white ball numbers will have the chance to win $1 million. The changes will go into effect with the Powerball drawing on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

"The improvements to Powerball will make the game more exciting," said Lottery Executive Director Ed Mahlman. "Powerball soon will have the largest opening jackpot in American Lottery history.

"Powerball jackpots will also increase faster, in at least $5 million increments."

To increase the average Powerball jackpot size, two white ball numbers will be added, changing the jackpot odds to 1-in-146.1 million; the current game has jackpot odds of 1-in-120.5 million. The overall odds of winning a cash prize will remain virtually the same, at 1-in-36.60, up slightly from the current 1-in-36.06.

To prepare for the changes to the game, it will be necessary to step-down Powerball's advance-play feature. Powerball and PowerPlay tickets may be purchased up to 13 weeks (26 draws) in advance. Beginning with the June 4 drawing, there no longer will be 26 draws remaining in the current version of the Powerball game. The last opportunity to purchase 13 weeks (26 draws) of Powerball in its current matrix will be Wednesday, June 1. The number of advance draws available for purchase will continue to decrease by one until only one drawing in the current schedule remains.

Powerball tickets will be on sale for the new, enhanced version beginning Sunday, Aug. 28. At that time, players again will be able to purchase up to 13 weeks (26 draws) of advance-play tickets.

This will be the fourth version of Powerball since it was introduced in April 1992. The Pennsylvania Lottery joined the multi-jurisdictional game in June 2002. In the past three years, Pennsylvania has sold nine jackpot- winning Powerball tickets totaling more than $425 million cash.

"As with all of the Pennsylvania Lottery games, Powerball helps us to continue supporting a broad range of programs that benefit older residents, including expanded prescription drug benefits through PACE and PACENET," said Mahlman. How to play Powerball (current version of the game): To play Powerball, players pay $1 and select five white balls from the first set of 53 numbers plus a single red ball, the Powerball, from a second set of 42 numbers. Players may select their own numbers using a Powerball play slip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn plus the Powerball number to win the jackpot. There also are eight additional ways for players to win a cash prize. Powerball features an option called PowerPlay. For an extra $1 per Powerball play (game), players can multiply their Powerball prizes by 2, 3, 4 or 5 times the original prize amount for all prizes EXCEPT the jackpot. Prizes can multiply up to $500,000. Powerball tickets are sold in 29 participating jurisdictions - 27 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands.