Powerball changes coming Sunday

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – Updated features of the Powerball game will debut this weekend, with changes designed to deliver larger jackpots while increasing other significant prizes in the game.

Plays will still cost $2 each. There will be better overall odds of winning any prize, a jump up to $50,000 for the game’s third prize level, and a chance for players to multiply secondary prize winnings by up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.

Sales of the redesigned game will begin on Sunday, and the first drawing with the new features will be on Wednesday night. There will be changes to both sets of numbers that players use. Players will choose their first five numbers from a set of 69 (currently 59) white balls and their Powerball from a pool of 26 (currently 35) red balls. The end result will be better overall odds of winning any prize, with extended odds of winning the jackpot.

Powerball jackpots will continue to start at $40 million and the game’s second prize for matching the first five numbers but missing the Powerball will still be $1 million. But the game’s third prize level is getting a five-fold increase from $10,000 to $50,000 for matching four of the first five numbers and the Powerball.

Powerball drawings will continue to be held at 10:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesdays and Saturdays.