LANSING, July 7, 2011 – In celebration of its 20th year, the Powerball game will be redesigned to bring more value to its players.

Starting January 15, 2012, Michigan Lottery players will notice some changes in Powerball. Jackpots will start at $40 million and with better odds, will be easier to win. Additionally, players who match five white balls will see the second prize level increase from $200,000 to $1 million. A match of five white balls plus the Power Play prize will be increased to $2 million, and the lowest level prize, matching just the Powerball, will increase from $3 to $4.

To play the new Powerball game, players will continue to select their first five numbers from 1 to 59 but their red Powerball number, or the sixth number, will be selected from 1 to 35, which will produce better overall odds of winning a prize in the game, 1 in 31.8. Odds to win the jackpot will be reduced from 1 in 195 million to 1 in 175 million.

Tickets for the redesigned game will cost $2 a wager. The Power Play option will remain the same at an extra $1 per wager.

Powerball drawings are conducted Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. and broadcast on stations across Michigan, including; WLAJ-TV 53 Lansing, WJMN-TV Marquette, and WMKG-TV 40 Muskegon.

Over 94 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 2010, the contribution to schools was $701.3 million. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has contributed more than $15 billion to education in Michigan.

“The Michigan Lottery. All across the state good things happen.”

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