Just because your Powerball ticket doesn’t come up a big winner, doesn’t mean you don’t have another chance at a cash prize. Learn how you can cash in on second-chance drawings.
Not every Powerball ticket can be a jackpot winner. But what if that non-winning ticket could still unlock a prize? The best known ways to win with those non-winning tickets are Second-Chance Drawings and the Double Play add-on features. Both extend the excitement and give players fresh opportunities to turn non-winning numbers into real prizes. And it's why you shouldn't toss out your losing ticket too soon.
Second-Chance Drawings allow players to re-enter losing tickets for another round of potential prizes. These drawings are run by individual state lotteries rather than by the national Powerball organization. Every participating lottery sets its own schedule, prize structure, and rules.
Players typically submit their eligible (non-winning) tickets online or through a lottery mobile app. After registration, the ticket’s barcode or entry code can be scanned or entered manually. Once confirmed, it goes into a separate drawing for prizes that often include:
These drawings keep the fun going and encourage players to hold onto their tickets instead of tossing them aside.
Although procedures vary by state, the process generally follows a few simple steps:
Some states run limited-time Second-Chance events tied to holidays or jackpot milestones, while others host them quarterly. Always check your local lottery’s page for deadlines so you do not miss your window.
In addition to Second-Chance promotions, Powerball offers Double Play, an official add-on feature available in select jurisdictions. With Double Play, players use the same numbers from their original Powerball ticket in a completely separate drawing held after the regular Powerball drawing.
Double Play gives players the opportunity to win up to $10 million in cash. The winning numbers for Double Play are drawn using a separate set of Powerball machines and balls. And this creates a standalone drawing with its own prize structure.
Double Play does not affect your main Powerball entry. You still participate in the regular jackpot drawing, and your numbers are automatically entered again for the Double Play drawing that follows.
A Powerball ticket that doesn't hit the jackpot can still be worth something. Whether you pay a little extra for Double Play or submit your ticket for a Second-Chance Drawing, both give you one more opportunity to turn ordinary numbers into something unforgettable. Check your state lottery’s website to see which programs are available where you play, and keep those tickets close.