FAQs for Powerball Xs and Os
Use this page to answer your Powerball X's and O's queries. Find out about the rules, odds, prizes, mechanics, draw times, how to claim, and much more.
General
Powerball X's and O's launched on September 8, 2026, with the first draw on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Powerball X's and O's is drawn at 10:00 PM ET, every Sunday, year-round.
The sales cut-off time varies from state-to-state - we would recommend getting your tickets in good time, or checking with your state lottery for specific cut-off times.
Tickets are available at retail locations in 23 states and jurisdictions: AZ, CT, DC, DE, IA, IN, KS, KY, MD, ME, MN, MO, NC, NE, NJ, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, VT, WV - more states are planning to join later on.
Powerball X's and O's tickets cost $5 per play, and each dollar spent can be used to enter supplementary draws if you scan the ticket with the official app.
This depends on which state you're in – in most states, it's 18, but some states only permit players above the age of 21 to participate.
How to Play
Playing Powerball X's and O's is simple – once you've got your play slip, all you need to do is select 8 NFL teams from a list of 32. When a draw takes place, eight teams are randomly selected as the winners – if four or more of your teams match the winners, you'll win a prize. Match all eight teams to win the jackpot! Don't forget to scan your tickets (whether they're winners or not) to enter them into the supplementary games.
No – despite the NFL tie-in, the winning teams for each Powerball X's and O's are selected at random, and are not influenced by actual football results.
In practice, yes. This game works just like a normal lottery, except with NFL teams instead of numbers, and a grid of logos instead of a traditional lottery line. Think of it as picking 8 numbers from a pool of 32!
This game is called X's and O's because the teams you select on your ticket and the winning teams are all presented on a 3x3 grid (with the center not included, so 8 squares total), like a game of tic-tac-toe.
Winning Prizes
The odds of landing a jackpot prize in this game are 1 in 10,518,300, while the overall prize odds are 1 in 12.16. Check a complete list on our Odds & Prizes page.
Prizes under $600 can typically be claimed in-person at a lottery retailer in the state where the ticket was purchased. Any more than that, and you'll need to claim by mail, or at a branch of the state lottery's offices. The claims process can vary lots from one state to the next, so do your homework before sending anything off. You can read more on our How to Claim page.
The limit for claiming Powerball X's and O's prizes will vary from one state to the next, so visit our How to Claim page to check your state's limit. Most states give players 180 days from the date of the draw in which to claim, others allow 1 year, and some give winners as little as 90 days to come forward.
Yes, but the threshold and amount you need to pay will vary based on which state you live in/purchased the ticket in, and other personal factors. As a lottery results & information website, we aren't best placed to advise on tax affairs – if you've won big, we would recommend contacting a professional financial advisor.
This is another one that depends on the state where the ticket was purchased. Each state has their own rules when it comes to big winners staying anonymous. You can check a state-by-state breakdown on our Publicity Options page.