# Which States Sell Powerball? Full List of 48 U.S. Jurisdictions

> Powerball is sold in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. See the full list, the five states without it, and the add-on rules.

Source: https://www.todaypowerball.com/blog/which-states-sell-powerball · Published: 2026-10-10 · Publisher: TodayPowerball (independent; not affiliated with any lottery)

Powerball is sold in **45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands**, which makes 48 U.S. lottery jurisdictions. The five states that don't sell it are **Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah**, and none of the five runs a state lottery at all. Since July 2026, Powerball tickets have also been sold in the United Kingdom.

Below is the full list, along with which places offer the Double Play add-on, why the five holdout states stay out, where residents of those states usually go to play, how state taxes change what a winner keeps, and what you need to know if you buy a ticket outside your home state.

## The full list of Powerball jurisdictions

Every place in the table sells the base $2 Powerball game and the drawings are the same everywhere: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Double Play is a $1 add-on that only some lotteries offer, so it's marked separately.

| Jurisdiction | Double Play offered? |
|---|---|
| Arizona | Yes |
| Arkansas | No |
| California | No |
| Colorado | Yes |
| Connecticut | Yes |
| Delaware | Yes |
| District of Columbia | Yes |
| Florida | Yes |
| Georgia | No |
| Idaho | Yes |
| Illinois | No |
| Indiana | Yes |
| Iowa | Yes |
| Kansas | Yes |
| Kentucky | Yes |
| Louisiana | No |
| Maine | Yes |
| Maryland | Yes |
| Massachusetts | No |
| Michigan | Yes |
| Minnesota | No |
| Mississippi | Yes |
| Missouri | Yes |
| Montana | Yes |
| Nebraska | Yes |
| New Hampshire | No |
| New Jersey | Yes |
| New Mexico | Yes |
| New York | Yes |
| North Carolina | Yes |
| North Dakota | No |
| Ohio | No |
| Oklahoma | Yes |
| Oregon | No |
| Pennsylvania | Yes |
| Puerto Rico | Yes |
| Rhode Island | No |
| South Carolina | Yes |
| South Dakota | Yes |
| Tennessee | Yes |
| Texas | No |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Yes |
| Vermont | No |
| Virginia | No |
| Washington | Yes |
| West Virginia | No |
| Wisconsin | No |
| Wyoming | No |

The Double Play column follows the list of 30 jurisdictions on [Powerball's Double Play page](https://www.powerball.com/double-play) as of October 2026. Lotteries add the feature from time to time (Arizona, Delaware and New York were among the 2026 additions), so check your own lottery if you're unsure.

### What every jurisdiction offers

Put the table together with California's rules and you get a simple picture of how the add-ons are spread across the country.

```chart
{
 "title": "Powerball options available across the 48 U.S. jurisdictions",
 "labels": ["Base $2 game","Power Play (+$1)","Double Play (+$1)"],
 "format": "number",
 "series": [
  {"label":"Jurisdictions offering it","kind":"histogram","values":[48,47,30]}
 ],
 "caption": "Source: powerball.com (participating lotteries and Double Play page, October 2026) and the California Lottery, which does not offer Power Play. Counts include D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands."
}
```

The base game is the same in all 48 places. Power Play is available everywhere except California, and Double Play is offered in 30 of the 48, or about five in eight. The chart doesn't mean that some states have better odds. The odds of every main-game prize tier are identical everywhere, because every ticket is entered in the same national drawing. What changes is which optional extras you can add to a ticket, and in California, how much the lower tiers pay.

## The five states without Powerball

Each holdout state has its own reasons, and in every case the issue is having any lottery at all, not Powerball specifically.

| State | Why there's no lottery |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The state constitution bans lotteries. Bills to put a lottery amendment before voters have failed repeatedly, most recently falling one vote short in the state Senate in 2024. No lottery bill got a floor vote in the 2026 session. |
| Alaska | No state lottery has been created. Its distance from other states means residents can't easily cross a border to buy tickets, which takes away a common argument for starting one. |
| Hawaii | Hawaii has some of the strictest anti-gambling laws in the country and allows almost no legal gambling. |
| Nevada | The state constitution prohibits a state lottery, and the casino industry has long opposed one as competition. |
| Utah | The state constitution bans gambling, and there is long-standing cultural and religious opposition. |

People who live in these states can still play Powerball by buying a ticket in a neighboring state where it's sold. That's legal as long as you buy it in person in a participating jurisdiction and follow that state's rules.

### Where residents of the holdout states usually play

Geography decides the options. Every state that borders a holdout state sells Powerball, except Nevada and Utah, which border each other.

- **Alabama** borders Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee, all of which sell Powerball. Mississippi's minimum age is 21, while Florida, Georgia and Tennessee generally require players to be 18.
- **Utah** borders Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona, all Powerball states (and touches New Mexico at the Four Corners), plus Nevada, which isn't. Arizona requires players to be 21.
- **Nevada** borders California, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona. A Nevadan who buys in California can't add Power Play there, and any prizes below the jackpot are paid on California's pari-mutuel basis.
- **Alaska** and **Hawaii** have no land border with a Powerball state, so residents can only buy a ticket in person while visiting a participating jurisdiction.

In every case, the prize must be claimed through the lottery that sold the ticket, under that lottery's deadlines. If you live far away, check whether that lottery accepts claims by mail for your prize size before you buy.

## How the list grew over time

Powerball started small. According to Powerball, 15 lotteries took part in the first drawing in April 1992. The map filled in over the next three decades. Some of the biggest additions:

- **Florida** started selling Powerball in January 2009.
- **California** joined in April 2013, bringing in the largest player base in the country.
- **Wyoming** and **Puerto Rico** both joined in 2014.
- **Mississippi** began selling Powerball in January 2020. It was the most recent U.S. state to join.
- In **July 2026**, ticket sales expanded to the **United Kingdom** through Allwyn, operator of the U.K. National Lottery. It was the first time Powerball was sold outside the U.S. and its territories. The U.K. game is priced in pounds and has some prize tiers that differ from the U.S. version.

Before 2010, many states sold either Powerball or Mega Millions, but not both. A cross-selling agreement that began on January 31, 2010 allowed lotteries to offer both games. Today nearly every lottery sells both. For more background, see our [history of Powerball](https://www.todaypowerball.com/blog/powerball-history).

## Rules that change from state to state

Powerball's numbers, odds, drawings and jackpot are shared nationwide. Many other rules are set by each lottery. Here are the ones that trip people up most often.

### Minimum age

Most lotteries require players to be **18**. A few set it higher. Nebraska requires players to be 19, and states such as Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana and Mississippi require them to be 21. Check your state lottery's rules before you buy or give a ticket as a gift.

### Power Play and prize amounts

Power Play costs $1 extra and multiplies non-jackpot prizes. **California does not offer Power Play**, and by state law it pays Powerball prizes below the jackpot on a pari-mutuel basis. That means those prize amounts depend on ticket sales and the number of winners in California, so they can be higher or lower than the national fixed amounts. Our guide to [Power Play](https://www.todaypowerball.com/blog/powerball-power-play-explained) explains how the multiplier works everywhere else.

### Ticket sales cutoff

Drawings happen at 10:59 p.m. ET, but each lottery stops selling tickets for that drawing at its own cutoff time, often an hour or two earlier. See our [Powerball drawing schedule](https://www.todaypowerball.com/blog/powerball-drawing-schedule) for details.

### Online sales

Some state lotteries sell Powerball online or through an official app to people who are physically located inside the state. Many others only sell tickets at licensed retailers. Your state lottery's official website will tell you which options it offers.

### Claim deadlines and anonymity

Each lottery sets its own deadline for claiming prizes and its own rules on whether winners' names are made public. Our step-by-step guide on [how to claim a Powerball prize](https://www.todaypowerball.com/blog/how-to-claim-a-powerball-prize) covers the process.

## State taxes: where you buy changes what you keep

The federal rules are the same everywhere, but state tax is not. Seven Powerball states have no state income tax: Florida, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. California and Delaware have income taxes but don't tax their own lottery prizes. Most other states treat lottery winnings as taxable income.

### Worked example: a $1 million Match 5 prize

Say you match all five white balls without Power Play and win $1,000,000. Here's roughly how the up-front withholding could look in three states. Figures are before any additional tax you might owe when you file.

| Where the ticket was bought | Federal withholding (24%) | State income tax | Approximate amount after these |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $240,000 | None | $760,000 |
| Illinois | $240,000 | 4.95% flat rate, $49,500 | $710,500 |
| California | $240,000 | None on California Lottery prizes | about $760,000, but the prize amount itself is pari-mutuel |

In California, the Match 5 prize isn't fixed at $1 million. It depends on sales and the number of California winners in that drawing, so the actual figure could be higher or lower. And in all three states, a $1 million prize pushes part of the winner's income into the top federal bracket of 37%, so more federal tax is usually due at filing time.

Your home state matters too. If you live in a state with an income tax and win in a state without one, your home state may still tax the prize. If both states tax it, many states offer a credit for tax paid to the other state. This is general information, not tax advice; check with both states' tax agencies or a tax professional.

## Buying a ticket in another state

You don't have to live in a state to buy Powerball there. Visitors and commuters buy tickets across state lines all the time. A few points to keep in mind:

1. **You claim in the state where you bought the ticket.** A ticket bought in Arizona has to be claimed through the Arizona Lottery, under Arizona's rules and deadlines.
2. **Taxes can involve two states.** The state where you bought the ticket may withhold its own income tax, and your home state may also tax the prize. Some states give you a credit for tax paid elsewhere. Rules vary, so check both states or ask a tax professional.
3. **Federal tax is the same everywhere.** For U.S. citizens, 24% federal tax is withheld from prizes over $5,000, and large jackpots fall into the top federal bracket of 37%. See [Powerball taxes explained](https://www.todaypowerball.com/blog/powerball-taxes-explained) for the details.
4. **Don't rely on online sales across state lines.** Where a lottery sells Powerball online, it generally sells only to people physically inside that state, and it checks your location. Out-of-state buyers need to purchase in person.
5. **Only buy from licensed sellers.** Stick to authorized retailers and your lottery's official channels. Messages that say you've "won" a lottery you didn't enter are scams.

## Common mistakes to avoid

- **Assuming add-ons work everywhere.** If you usually play with Power Play at home and buy a ticket in California, there's no multiplier to add. Double Play isn't sold in 18 of the 48 jurisdictions.
- **Forgetting the age rule changes at the border.** A 19-year-old who can play in one state may be too young to buy in Nebraska or in a 21-and-over state.
- **Losing track of the claim deadline.** The clock follows the selling lottery's rules, not your home state's.
- **Giving a ticket to a minor.** Lottery tickets aren't suitable gifts for children or teens, even where buying one as a gift is legal.
- **Sharing a ticket photo online.** A paper ticket is usually treated as a bearer instrument, so keep the numbers and barcode private until it's claimed.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many states have Powerball?

Powerball is sold in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for 48 U.S. jurisdictions. Since July 2026, it's also sold in the United Kingdom.

### Which states don't have Powerball?

Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah don't sell Powerball because none of them has a state lottery.

### Can I play Powerball if I live in a state without it?

Yes. You can buy a ticket in person in any participating state, as long as you meet that state's age rules. If you win, you claim the prize in the state where you bought the ticket.

### Is Powerball the same in every state?

The numbers, drawings, odds and jackpot are the same everywhere. Add-ons and some rules differ: Double Play is only offered in 30 jurisdictions, California has no Power Play and pays pari-mutuel prizes, and age limits and claim deadlines vary.

### Is Powerball sold outside the United States?

Yes. Since July 21, 2026, Powerball has been sold in the United Kingdom through Allwyn, operator of the U.K. National Lottery, and U.K. sales feed the same jackpot. The U.K. version is priced in pounds and has some different prize tiers.

### Do I pay state tax if I buy a ticket in a state with no income tax?

That state won't tax the prize, but your home state may, depending on its rules. Federal tax applies everywhere.

### Which state was the last to join Powerball?

Mississippi was the most recent state to join, in January 2020. You can find every lottery's official website through [powerball.com](https://www.powerball.com/).

## The bottom line

You can play Powerball in 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Only Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah stay out, because they have no state lottery. The core game is identical everywhere, but age limits, add-ons, sales cutoffs, claim rules and state taxes depend on where you buy. Before you play, take a minute to check your state lottery's rules. Whatever state you're in, set a budget you're comfortable with. If playing stops being fun, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), the National Problem Gambling Helpline, for free, confidential help 24/7.