After two decades of success and being the most popular lottery game in Idaho and North America, Powerball is poised to turn 20 years old next year and with the celebration of its anniversary comes enhancements to the game that will take effect on Sunday, January 15, 2012.

“Powerball is the premiere lottery game in the country,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “With the addition of Mega Millions almost two years ago, the time was right nationally and here in Idaho to introduce these game enhancements.”

Powerball’s new enhancements will include:

-Bigger starting jackpots - the minimum starting jackpot doubles from $20 million to $40 million.

-Better overall odds - winning any prize improves to 1:31.8 and the odds of winning the jackpot will improve to 1 in 175 million.

-More million dollar winning experiences - Players who correctly match the first five white balls but not the Powerball number itself will now win $1,000,000. Previously this prize was $200,000.

PowerPlay, the add-on feature that increases non-jackpot winning prizes will also change. Beginning on January 15, 2012, the PowerPlay for each non-jackpot winning prize will be pre-determined and is outlined in the Prize Table below. The biggest prize payout increase for a player with PowerPlay is when they match the five white ball numbers and not the Powerball. This PowerPlay ticket will now win an automatic $2,000,000.

 Additionally, beginning January 15, 2012, the enhanced Powerball game will be $2 per play; $3 per play with the PowerPlay feature.

 “Over the past few years, we’ve listened to our players ask for more million dollar winning experiences while keeping the opportunity to play for bigger jackpots,” said Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “Modifying the price for the first time in twenty years was the natural evolution of the game to bring more value to our players.”

These game changes only apply to Powerball. Mega Millions, Hot Lotto, and Wild Card, Idaho’s other multi-state jackpot draw games, remain unchanged.