When you buy a Powerball ticket, the money you spend is used to pay prizes and also help good causes in the state where you are playing. Find out here how much of the revenue goes to the prize fund from different locations across the United States, along with information about how the rest of it is distributed.
The precise breakdown of where the money goes varies from state to state, but at least half must be returned to players in the form of prize money. Powerball jackpots start at $20 million and grow quickly between draws when there are no winners, but this is only possible because of the large player pool and the fact that at least $1 from every $2 spent on a ticket goes straight into the prize pot.
Apart from giving players the chance to win prizes, the main focus for each state lottery is to support good causes within its own borders. Many of the lotteries are devoted to helping the local education system, while others focus on the environment or health services, or split the money across several sectors. In these instances, the proceeds may be handed over to the state treasury for allocation or go to a general fund which oversees lots of different areas.
The remainder of the revenue in each state is used for retailer commissions or to cover operating costs. Retailers are rewarded for selling the tickets and receive bigger bonuses when players win big prizes through them. Operating costs include all the different expenses involved in running a lottery, such as marketing, salaries to employees, business contracts and general administration.
Each state distributes the money in slightly different ways, and you can use the following table to see just where the cash you spend on a ticket goes in your state. Go to the Participating States page to find out more information about where Powerball profits go, along with details of how the game is played in that specific jurisdiction.
The figures in the table below refer to the distribution of revenue from all the games played in the state, not just Powerball.
| State | Prizes | Operating Costs |
Retailer Commissions |
Public Services and Good Causes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 63.4% | 5.6% | 6.8% | 24.2% |
| Arkansas | 68.1% | 3.4% | 9.8% | 18.7% |
| California | 63.0% | 5.2% | 6.9% | 24.9% |
| Colorado* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Connecticut | 62.0% | 4.0% | 6.0% | 28.0% |
| Delaware | 55.0% | 5.0% | 10.0% | 30.0% |
| Florida | 64.8% | 2.7% | 5.6% | 26.9% |
| Georgia | 63.9% | 4.2% | 6.2% | 25.7% |
| Idaho | 67.0% | 7.0% | 6.0% | 20.0% |
| Illinois | 65.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 25.0% |
| Indiana | 60.0% | 6.0% | 7.0% | 27.0% |
| Iowa | 61.2% | 9.4% | 6.5% | 22.9% |
| Kansas | 58.2% | 8.5% | 5.8% | 27.5% |
| Kentucky | 61.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 27.0% |
| Louisiana | 53.7% | 5.7% | 5.6% | 35.0% |
| Maine* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Maryland | 62.0% | 3.4% | 7.5% | 27.1% |
| Massachusetts | 72.5% | 1.9% | 5.8% | 19.8% |
| Michigan | 60.0% | 3.0% | 9.0% | 28.0% |
| Minnesota | 62.2% | 7.5% | 6.0% | 24.3% |
| Mississippi* | 57.1% | 8.6% | 6.0% | 28.3% |
| Missouri* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Montana* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Nebraska | 58.1% | 11.1% | 6.4% | 24.4% |
| New Hampshire | 63.0% | 6.0% | 6.0% | 25.0% |
| New Jersey | 60.5% | 3.2% | 5.3% | 31.0% |
| New Mexico | 53.3% | 10.2% | 6.5% | 30.0% |
| New York | 60.7% | 3.0% | 6.0% | 30.3% |
| North Carolina | 63.0% | 4.0% | 7.0% | 26.0% |
| North Dakota | 51.0% | 8.0% | 5.0% | 36.0% |
| Ohio | 60.0% | 5.0% | 5.0% | 30.0% |
| Oklahoma* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Oregon | 92.5% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 4.2% |
| Pennsylvania | 67.0% | 2.0% | 8.0% | 23.0% |
| Puerto Rico* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Rhode Island | 80.5% | 0.4% | 9.3% | 9.9% |
| South Carolina | 63.6% | 4.5% | 6.9% | 25.0% |
| South Dakota* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Tennessee | 63.0% | 4.0% | 7.0% | 26.0% |
| Texas | 66.8% | 3.3% | 5.3% | 24.6% |
| U.S. Virgin Islands* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
| Vermont | 65.1% | 7.8% | 6.2% | 20.9% |
| Virginia | 61.1% | 4.9% | 5.7% | 28.3% |
| Washington State | 62.5% | 8.5% | 5.0% | 24.0% |
| Washington, D.C. | 63.9% | 6.4% | 7.0% | 22.7% |
| West Virginia | 50.1% | 4.2% | 7.0% | 38.7% |
| Wisconsin | 56.7% | 6.9% | 6.3% | 30.1% |
| Wyoming* | 50.0% | 9.0% | 6.0% | 35.0% |
*These are estimated percentages; the state lottery does not disclose the exact figures.
