As one of the largest pharmacy chains in the U.S. with over 9,000 stores, Walgreens is a go-to destination for picking up Powerball tickets. Whether you‘re a seasoned lottery veteran or a curious first-timer, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about purchasing Powerball tickets at your local Walgreens or Duane Reade.
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Powerball 101
First, let‘s cover some Powerball basics. Powerball is a widely popular multi-state lottery game known for its huge jackpots that routinely climb into the hundreds of millions of dollars. It‘s operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) with drawings every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 pm ET.
To play, you select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball. You win the jackpot by matching all six numbers drawn. There are also eight additional prize tiers for matching fewer numbers, with prizes ranging from $4 to $1 million.
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play. You can add the Power Play option for an extra $1 per play to multiply non-jackpot prizes. Draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET. Sales cut-off times vary by state but are typically 1-2 hours before the draw.
Where to Buy Powerball Tickets
Powerball is currently available in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The only states that don‘t participate are Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah. Here is the full list of participating states:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
As long as you are located in one of these jurisdictions, you can walk into any Walgreens store and purchase Powerball tickets at the customer service counter or from a self-service lottery machine. Some states also allow online lottery ticket sales.
How to Buy Powerball Tickets at Walgreens
If you‘re ready to try your luck, follow these simple steps to purchase Powerball tickets from your neighborhood Walgreens:
Check your age: You must be at least 18 years old to purchase lottery tickets in most states, although some states require players to be 19 or 21. Be prepared to show a valid government-issued photo ID.
Decide how many plays: Each Powerball play costs $2. Choose how many sets of numbers you want to play. You can also select the Power Play option for an additional $1 per play to multiply non-jackpot prizes.
Choose your numbers: Use a play slip to pick your own lucky numbers – five from 1 to 69 for the white balls and one from 1 to 26 for the Powerball. Or have the lottery terminal randomly generate a Quick Pick ticket for you.
See AlsoLottery lunacy: the 5 most outrageous arrests and scams in lottery historyPowerball winning numbers for Monday, May 13, 2024. Check your ticketsPortfolio Recovery Associates, LLC vs Angela L Bennett, 55-CV-19-5774, 05092019_Affidavit of Plaintiff_0 (Minnesota State, Olmsted County, District Court Sep. 5, 2019)Select number of draws: You can enter up to 26 consecutive drawings on one ticket by marking the appropriate box for number of draws on your play slip.
Pay and receive ticket: Hand your completed play slip and payment to the Walgreens cashier. They will process your ticket and give you a printed receipt. Be sure to verify that the numbers and number of plays are correct before leaving. Sign the back of the ticket and keep it safe – it is the only valid proof to claim a prize.
Powerball ticket sales at Walgreens typically close one hour before the drawing, but this may vary by state. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm Eastern Time. Winning numbers are posted on the Powerball website, through lottery apps, and at retail locations.
Powerball Ticket Prices by State
While the base price for a Powerball ticket is $2 in all participating jurisdictions, some states tack on additional fees. For example, Oregon and Montana charge an extra $1 per play, making tickets $3 each.
Here‘s a breakdown of Powerball ticket prices by state as of March 2023:
| State | Ticket Price |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $2 |
| Arkansas | $2 |
| California | $2 |
| Colorado | $2 |
| Connecticut | $2 |
| Delaware | $2 |
| Florida | $2 |
| Georgia | $2 |
| Idaho | $2 |
| Illinois | $2 |
| Indiana | $2 |
| Iowa | $2 |
| Kansas | $2 |
| Kentucky | $2 |
| Louisiana | $2 |
| Maine | $2 |
| Maryland | $2 |
| Massachusetts | $2 |
| Michigan | $2 |
| Minnesota | $2 |
| Mississippi | $2 |
| Missouri | $2 |
| Montana | $3 |
| Nebraska | $2 |
| New Hampshire | $2 |
| New Jersey | $2 |
| New Mexico | $2 |
| New York | $2 |
| North Carolina | $2 |
| North Dakota | $2 |
| Ohio | $2 |
| Oklahoma | $2 |
| Oregon | $3 |
| Pennsylvania | $2 |
| Puerto Rico | $2 |
| Rhode Island | $2 |
| South Carolina | $2 |
| South Dakota | $2 |
| Tennessee | $2 |
| Texas | $2 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | $2 |
| Vermont | $2 |
| Virginia | $2 |
| Washington | $2 |
| Washington, D.C. | $2 |
| West Virginia | $2 |
| Wisconsin | $2 |
| Wyoming | $2 |
Powerball‘s Impact on Walgreens
As a major national retailer, Walgreens sees a significant sales boost from Powerball ticket purchases, especially when the jackpot reaches stratospheric levels. The company does not disclose specific sales figures, but lottery ticket commissions and related foot traffic provide a solid revenue stream.
"When jackpots get big, that is a chance for us to increase our profit and really bring a lot more customers into the stores," said former Walgreens CEO Greg Wasson in a 2016 CNBC interview.
Over 50% of Walgreens stores are located in states that participate in Powerball, giving the chain a substantial lottery market share. Powerball and other lottery tickets are a key part of Walgreens‘ non-pharmacy business, which also includes convenience items, household goods, personal care, and photo services.
Who Plays Powerball?
According to a 2017 Gallup poll, 49% of U.S. adults reported buying lottery tickets, including Powerball. Lottery participation tends to peak when jackpots swell to eye-catching amounts. A 2016 survey by research firm Mintel found that 22% of millennials purchased a lottery ticket in the prior year, compared to 60% of Baby Boomers.
The average American spends about $219 per year on lottery tickets according to a 2017 LendEDU study. Massachusetts residents spent the most at $737 annually, while North Dakotans spent just $45 per year.
Critics argue that state lotteries disproportionately attract low-income players who can least afford to lose money. A 1999 Duke University study concluded that lottery participation declines with education level – 56% of adults with less than a high school diploma played, compared to 35% of college graduates.
However, Gallup found little difference in self-reported lottery participation by annual household income:
- Less than $36,000: 40% played
- $36,000-$89,999: 56% played
- $90,000 or more: 53% played
The North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries (NASPL) estimates that about 62% of U.S. lottery sales come from 20% of players. These "frequent players" are predominantly male, older, and have annual household incomes below $50,000.
The Psychology of Playing Powerball
From a financial standpoint, playing Powerball is not a rational decision. The odds of winning the jackpot are an astronomical 1 in 292 million. You are more likely to be struck by lightning or attacked by a shark than to win Powerball.
So why do so many people play the lottery week after week? Psychologists have identified several key reasons:
Availability bias: People tend to overestimate the likelihood of rare events that receive heavy media coverage, like lottery wins. Constant coverage of huge Powerball jackpots inflates players‘ belief that they could win.
Illusion of control: Picking your own "lucky" numbers provides a sense of control over an uncontrollable game of chance. People believe they can beat the odds through lucky charms, special strategies, or psychic insight.
Bandwagon effect: Seeing others buy tickets, especially in a social setting like a workplace pool, encourages more people to conform and participate. FOMO (fear of missing out) is a powerful motivator.
Innumeracy: The human brain has a hard time grasping extremely large numbers and infinitesimally small odds. Many people don‘t realize just how unlikely a lottery win actually is.
Escapism: For a few dollars, anyone can buy the fleeting fantasy of winning a life-changing fortune. Imagining how you‘d spend the jackpot is a form of escapism and a temporary reprieve from financial worries.
As behavioral economist Dan Ariely puts it, playing the lottery is "a cheap way to buy a license to fantasize." For most players, the two dollars spent on a Powerball ticket is paying for the thrill of an occasional daydream rather than a serious investment strategy.
Interesting Powerball Facts
Powerball was launched in 1992 as Lotto*America before rebranding to Powerball in 1997. The game started with 15 participating states and has grown to 48 total jurisdictions.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever was a whopping $1.586 billion in January 2016. The prize was split three ways by tickets sold in California, Florida and Tennessee.
Seven states allow winners to claim prizes anonymously either by law or through claiming mechanisms like trusts. The rest require public disclosure of winners‘ names and cities.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot (1 in 292 million) are lower than the odds of becoming a movie star (1 in 1.5 million) or being killed by a vending machine (1 in 112 million).
About 50% of Powerball ticket sales go toward prizes. The rest is allocated to retailer commissions, administrative costs and state-specific causes like education.
You are more likely to win an Olympic gold medal (1 in 662,000) than win the $1 million Powerball prize for matching all five white balls (1 in 11.7 million).
The most common Powerball numbers are 20 (drawn 79 times), 6 (78), and 29 (76). The least common are 35, 4, and 51 (drawn 33 times each).
Spain, the U.K., Ireland, Portugal, Switzerland, Australia, and Austria allow their citizens to purchase Powerball tickets online through lottery agent services.
44 states allow winners to choose between receiving the jackpot as an annuity (30 payments over 29 years) or a lump sum payment. The "cash option" is the more popular choice.
The U.S. federal government taxes lottery winnings as ordinary income. For jackpots over $5 million, the withholding rate is 37%. State tax rates on lottery prizes vary widely.
How to Play Powerball Responsibly
Powerball and other lottery games are ultimately a form of gambling and should be treated as such. While some players do beat the odds, the house edge is high and there are very real risks of overspending and addiction.
The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) urges all lottery players to adhere to the following responsible gaming tips:
- Set a budget and stick to it
- Never chase losses
- Don‘t play to escape stress or boredom
- Balance lottery spending with other leisure activities
- Know the warning signs of problem gambling
- Understand the odds of the game
If you or someone you know is struggling to control their lottery play, free and confidential help is available 24/7 through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Walgreens promotes responsible play by training employees to check customer age IDs, displaying problem gambling resources, and supporting state lottery responsible gaming campaigns. The company‘s policy is to "sell lottery products in a socially responsible manner while offering [customers] a convenient service."
Conclusion
Playing Powerball at your neighborhood Walgreens or Duane Reade is a simple way to toss your hat in the ring for a chance at a multi-million dollar prize. Just hand over a few dollars, choose your lucky numbers, and let the anticipation build until the next drawing.
But as this deep dive demonstrates, the lottery is designed to be profitable for the organizers, not the players. The odds are overwhelmingly not in your favor, and there are very real financial and psychological risks to playing too much.
By understanding how Powerball works, who plays, and how to gamble responsibly, you can make more informed choices about your lottery participation. Playing a few dollars here and there is usually harmless, but remember – you are paying for entertainment, not making a wise investment choice.
When the Powerball fever hits, head to your local Walgreens, have fun picking your numbers, and most importantly – play responsibly! May the odds be ever in your favor.
