Arizona’s Shot at $1.8B Powerball: What to Know Before the Big Draw

The Powerball is back in the spotlight, and this week it’s bigger than ever. The jackpot for the Saturday, Sept. 6, drawing has climbed to a jaw-dropping $1.8 billion, making it the second-largest prize in Powerball history. The cash option? A staggering $826.4 million. That’s life-changing money by anyone’s standards.

And if you live in Arizona, there’s extra reason to pay attention. History has shown the Grand Canyon State can be lucky ground for Powerball winners. Over the years, 13 jackpot tickets have been sold here. The most memorable win came in April 2022, when a married couple from Gilbert snagged $473.1 million. They went for the cash option and walked away with their fortune in one lump sum.

When and How to Play Powerball in Arizona

• Drawing days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays

• Next draw: Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time (10:59 p.m. Eastern)

• Ticket cost: $2 per play

• Add Power Play: $1 more if you want to multiply non-jackpot prizes

But don’t wait until the last minute. Arizona’s cutoff to buy a ticket is 6:59 p.m. local time on draw days. Miss that, and you’ll be watching the numbers roll without a chance in the game.

If you’re wondering where to buy, the Arizona Lottery website has a handy “Where to Play” map to help you find the nearest spot to grab your ticket.

Where to Watch the Drawing

No need to guess if your numbers hit—Powerball drawings stream live on the official lottery site. You might also find it airing on a local TV channel. Grab your ticket, tune in, and cross your fingers.

How to Win and What You Can Get

Everyone dreams of hitting all six numbers, but Powerball pays out even for smaller matches. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Just the Powerball = $4

• One number + Powerball = $4

• Two numbers + Powerball = $7

• Three numbers = $7

• Three numbers + Powerball = $100

• Four numbers = $100

• Four numbers + Powerball = $50,000

• Five numbers = $1 million

• Five numbers + Powerball = Jackpot

And if you do hit the big one, you’ll face a huge decision:

1. Annual Payments – The full jackpot spread over 30 years.

2. Cash Lump Sum – A little over half the jackpot amount, paid all at once.

The Odds Game

Of course, winning isn’t easy. The odds of landing the jackpot are about 1 in 292 million. To put that in perspective:

• You’re more likely to be struck by lightning—twice.

• You’ve got better odds of becoming U.S. president.

• Heck, even getting bitten by a shark is statistically more likely.

Still, someone’s got to win eventually, and it could be someone in Arizona again.

Can You Stay Anonymous?

Here’s a big question Arizonans always ask: Can I keep my win private? The answer is yes—sometimes. If you win more than $100,000, you can request permanent anonymity under state law. For smaller wins, your name stays private for a while, but details may eventually be made public.

The Biggest Powerball Jackpots Ever

Here’s where this current jackpot ranks among the giants:

1. $2.04 billion – California, Nov. 2022

2. $1.8 billion – Current jackpot

3. $1.765 billion – California, Oct. 2023

4. $1.586 billion – California, Florida, Tennessee, Jan. 2016

5. $1.326 billion – Oregon, April 2024

6. $1.08 billion – California, July 2023

7. $842.4 million – Michigan, Jan. 2024

8. $768.4 million – Wisconsin, March 2019

9. $758.7 million – Massachusetts, Aug. 2017

10. $754.6 million – Washington, Feb. 2023