Prices of Powerball tickets to rise to $2 in 2012

WASHINGTON D.C – From January 15th next year, Powerball ticket prices will double to $2. Players will be pleased to know there will be a higher chance of winning and bigger jackpots thanks to the rise in ticket price.

The price increase is scheduled to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Powerball.

The first five numbers will still be chosen from 1 to 59, but the Powerball number will shrink from 39 to 35 available numbers. The fewer Powerball numbers to choose from will give players better odds of winning any prize in the main draw.

The starting jackpot for all draws will increase to $40million. The prize for matching all five main draw numbers but not the Powerball will increase five fold, from $200,000 to $1m.

Powerball is played in 42 states, including Virginia and West Virginia, and in Washington, D.C.