Australian Powerball is a national lottery drawn every Thursday night, run by official state operators under The Lott and Lotterywest. You pick 7 numbers from 1-35 plus one Powerball from 1-20, there are nine prize divisions, the Division 1 pool starts at AU$4 million, and wins are completely tax-free for Australian residents. It shares a name with the American game, but it is a different lottery with its own rules, better jackpot odds and prizes paid in Australian dollars.
How does Powerball work in Australia?
Each Thursday, seven winning numbers are drawn from a barrel of 35, followed by a single Powerball drawn from a separate barrel of 20. Your game wins a prize if it matches enough of the drawn numbers - from Division 9 (just 2 winning numbers plus the Powerball) all the way up to Division 1 (all 7 numbers plus the Powerball). If no one wins Division 1, the jackpot rolls over to the next Thursday, which is how Australian Powerball builds the biggest jackpots of any Australian lottery.
Australian Powerball: basic information
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Draw night | Every Thursday, about 8:30 pm AEST (ticket sales close earlier - roughly 7:30 pm AEST, varying by state) |
| Number format | 7 numbers from 1-35 + 1 Powerball from 1-20 |
| Starting jackpot | AU$4 million (Division 1 pool) |
| Prize divisions | 9 |
| Division 1 odds | 1 in 134,490,400 per game |
| Record jackpot | AU$200 million (February 2024) |
| Tax on winnings | None for Australian residents - prizes are paid tax-free |
How to play Australian Powerball (step by step)
- Choose 7 numbers from 1 to 35 - or take a QuickPick and let the terminal choose for you.
- Choose 1 Powerball number from 1 to 20. The Powerball is drawn from its own barrel, so it can repeat one of your main numbers.
- Decide how many games to play. Each game line is a separate entry; a standard game costs about AU$1.35, and most entries have a minimum number of games.
- Buy before the Thursday cut-off - in store, through the official operator's website or app, or through a licensed online lottery messenger if you are overseas.
- Check the results after the 8:30 pm AEST draw and claim any prize within your state's claim period.
System entries (playing more than 7 main numbers) and syndicates are also available and cover more combinations for a proportionally higher price.
Is Powerball the same in NSW, Victoria and Queensland?
Yes. Powerball is one national game with identical numbers, draws and prize divisions across every state and territory. The brand on the ticket differs - NSW Lotteries in New South Wales, Tatts in Victoria, Golden Casket in Queensland, SA Lotteries in South Australia (all part of The Lott), and Lotterywest in Western Australia - but a “Powerball NSW” entry and a “Powerball QLD” entry go into exactly the same Thursday draw.
Australian Powerball prize divisions
There are nine ways to win. This is the correct current division table (7/35 + 1/20 format, in place since April 2018):
| Division | Match | Odds (per game) |
|---|---|---|
| Division 1 | 7 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 134,490,400 |
| Division 2 | 7 numbers | 1 in 7,078,443 |
| Division 3 | 6 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 686,176 |
| Division 4 | 6 numbers | 1 in 36,115 |
| Division 5 | 5 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 16,943 |
| Division 6 | 4 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 1,173 |
| Division 7 | 5 numbers | 1 in 892 |
| Division 8 | 3 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 188 |
| Division 9 | 2 numbers + Powerball | 1 in 66 |
Division 1 is a shared pool (split between winners), while lower divisions pay set percentages of the prize fund. The overall odds of winning any prize with a single game are about 1 in 44.
How do you win Australian Powerball?
The minimum winning combination is 2 main numbers plus the Powerball (Division 9), which typically pays around AU$10-12. To win the Division 1 jackpot you need all 7 main numbers plus the Powerball on a single game. No strategy changes the odds - every combination has exactly the same 1-in-134,490,400 chance - so treat any “winning system” claims with scepticism, set a budget and stick to it. More games or a syndicate buy more coverage, never a better price per combination.
Australian Powerball vs US Powerball
The two games are frequently confused. The American Powerball uses a 5/69 + 1/26 format with jackpot odds of 1 in 292,201,338, pays in US dollars, is drawn three times a week, and its advertised jackpots are reduced by US withholding tax and the cash-option discount. Australian Powerball is drawn once a week, has roughly twice-as-good jackpot odds (1 in 134,490,400), and pays the full advertised amount tax-free. US jackpots climb far higher; Australian ones are friendlier per dollar won.
Live in Australia but want to enter the American draws instead? Our guide to playing US Powerball from Australia covers couriers, US withholding tax and draw times in AEST.
Biggest Australian Powerball jackpots
The 2018 format change (to 7/35 + 1/20) was designed to build bigger jackpots, and it worked:
AU$200 million - February 2024, the largest Australian lottery prize ever offered
AU$160 million - October 2022
AU$150 million - September 2019
Tax on Australian Powerball winnings
Lottery winnings are not treated as income in Australia, so a Powerball prize is paid in full, tax-free, to Australian residents. If you play from overseas through a messenger service, your own country's tax rules may apply to the win - check them before you play.
Can you play Australian Powerball online or from overseas?
Australian residents can play online directly through the official operator for their state. If you live outside Australia, licensed lottery messenger services will buy an official entry on your behalf - you can order official Australian Powerball tickets online at theLotter, which purchases the real ticket locally and scans it to your account. The draw, divisions and odds are identical; the service fee is built into the entry price.
Play the world's biggest lotteries
Buy official tickets online through a licensed operator - same numbers, same jackpots.
Frequently asked questions
How does Powerball work in Australia?
Seven winning numbers are drawn from 35, plus one Powerball from a separate barrel of 20, every Thursday at about 8:30 pm AEST. You win by matching enough numbers on one game, from Division 9 (2 numbers + the Powerball) up to Division 1 (all 7 + the Powerball). It is a different game from the American Powerball, with better jackpot odds and tax-free prizes.
How many numbers do you need to win Australian Powerball?
The minimum win is 2 main numbers plus the Powerball (Division 9), at odds of about 1 in 66 per game, typically paying around AU$10–12. The Division 1 jackpot needs all 7 main numbers plus the Powerball.
What time is the Powerball draw in Australia?
Every Thursday at approximately 8:30 pm AEST (9:30 pm AEDT during daylight saving). Ticket sales close earlier in the evening — around 7:30 pm AEST, with the exact cut-off varying by state and sales channel.
Is Powerball the same in NSW, Victoria and Queensland?
Yes — Powerball is one national draw. NSW Lotteries, Tatts, Golden Casket and SA Lotteries are all regional brands of The Lott, and Lotterywest covers Western Australia; every ticket enters the same Thursday draw with the same divisions and odds.
Are Australian Powerball winnings taxed?
No. Lottery prizes are tax-free for Australian residents and paid in full — unlike US Powerball, where advertised jackpots are reduced by withholding tax and the lump-sum discount. Overseas players should check their own country's tax rules.
Can I play Australian Powerball from outside Australia?
Yes, through a licensed lottery messenger service such as theLotter, which buys an official ticket in Australia on your behalf and scans it to your account. You play the same draw with the same odds; prizes are collected for you.