The United States Powerball is one of the world’s largest lotteries, with jackpots that have climbed past two billion dollars. Because the headlines travel, a common question in New Zealand is whether you can take part from here — and if so, how. The short answer: no US lottery sells tickets directly to people outside America, and Lotto NZ does not sell the US game either, so the only routes are third-party services that buy or bet on draws for you. Those routes come with real costs, tax and consumer-protection trade-offs. This guide explains what is actually possible, how the game works, and what to weigh up before you spend a cent.
Key Facts
- Game: United States Powerball (a separate game from Lotto NZ’s Powerball)
- Run by: US state lotteries; drawn in Florida
- Numbers: 5 from 1–69, plus 1 Powerball from 1–26
- Draw days: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10:59 pm US Eastern Time
- Ticket price: US$2 per play (+US$1 each for Power Play or Double Play)
- Jackpot start: US$20 million, rolling over until won
- Record jackpot: US$2.04 billion (California, November 2022)
- Jackpot odds: about 1 in 292 million; any prize about 1 in 24.9
- Available to NZ players: only via overseas couriers, betting sites, or buying in person in the US
- US tax on wins: 30% federal withholding on non-residents
US Powerball is not the same as NZ Powerball
First, a point of confusion worth clearing up. New Zealand has its own Powerball, which is an optional add-on to a standard Lotto NZ ticket. The American Powerball is a completely separate game, run across most US states, with different numbers, different draws and prizes paid in US dollars. If you were looking for the local product, our page on NZ Powerball covers how that add-on works and what it can win.
This article is about the US game. It is drawn in Florida and sold by a group of American state lotteries. Nothing you do through an overseas service changes your mathematical chances — a ticket bought for you in Florida carries exactly the same long odds as one bought by a resident, just as the odds of winning Lotto in New Zealand stay fixed no matter where you buy.
Can you legally play US Powerball from New Zealand?
This is the part most marketing pages skip. New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) is the regulator, and its guidance draws a clear line:
- Running online gambling inside New Zealand is restricted. Remote interactive gambling conducted in New Zealand is prohibited under the Gambling Act 2003, and only authorised operators (Lotto NZ and the TAB) may offer their products here.
- Taking part in an overseas-based site is not, by itself, illegal for the player. The DIA states it is not illegal for someone in New Zealand to participate in gambling over the internet when the website is based overseas — with the notable exception of betting on racing and sporting events, which only TAB NZ may offer.
- There is little protection if something goes wrong. The DIA warns that handing personal and financial details to an overseas site can expose you to fraud, and that any legal protection depends on the laws of the country hosting the site. Its advice is blunt: if you are unsure of a site’s legality and the protections it offers, do not use it.
In practice, then, using an overseas courier or betting service to follow the US draw is a grey area rather than a crime for the individual, but you take on the risk yourself. This is informational only and not legal advice; if the legality of a specific service matters to you, check with the DIA or a lawyer.
How US Powerball works
Understanding the game is the easiest part. The rules below are the same whoever buys the ticket.
The numbers and the draw
You pick five main (“white ball”) numbers from 1 to 69 and one red Powerball number from 1 to 26. This 5/69 + 1/26 format has been in place since October 2015. Draws are held three times a week — Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm Eastern Time in Florida. Because of the time difference, that falls on the following afternoon in New Zealand. The jackpot starts at US$20 million and rolls over until someone matches all six numbers.
The ticket price and optional add-ons
A single play costs US$2. Two optional extras exist in the US:
- Power Play — an extra US$1 per play that multiplies non-jackpot prizes by 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x or (when the advertised jackpot is US$150 million or less) 10x. With Power Play, the Match 5 prize is fixed at US$2 million.
- Double Play — an extra US$1 per play that enters your same numbers into a separate drawing with its own prize table, where offered.
Note that third-party services almost always add their own fees and a currency conversion on top of these face values, so what you pay from New Zealand is higher than the US price.
The nine ways to win
There are nine prize tiers. You win the smallest prize just by matching the Powerball alone. Prizes are shown in US dollars for a $2 play, before any Power Play multiplier and before US tax.
| Match | Base prize (USD) | Odds (1 in) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Powerball | Jackpot (from $20 million) | 292,201,338 |
| 5 white balls | $1 million | 11,688,054 |
| 4 + Powerball | $50,000 | 913,129 |
| 4 white balls | $100 | 36,525 |
| 3 + Powerball | $100 | 14,494 |
| 3 white balls | $7 | 580 |
| 2 + Powerball | $7 | 701 |
| 1 + Powerball | $4 | 92 |
| Powerball only | $4 | 38 |
The overall chance of winning any prize is about 1 in 24.9, while the jackpot sits at roughly 1 in 292 million. For context on the scale of the top prize, the largest Powerball jackpot ever — US$2.04 billion — was won on a single ticket sold in California in November 2022.
The ways New Zealanders access US Powerball
Since you cannot buy directly, three models exist. They are genuinely different in what you end up owning, so it pays to understand them before choosing.
Lottery courier (concierge) services
A courier service buys a real US Powerball ticket on your behalf, in your name, at a retailer in a US state, then uploads a scan to your online account as proof. You own an actual ticket. Smaller prizes are usually credited to your account, but large wins — especially a jackpot — may require you to travel to the US to claim in person, because US prizes must be claimed in the jurisdiction where the ticket was bought.
Lottery betting (bet-on-the-outcome) sites
A betting site does not buy a ticket at all. You place a bet on the outcome of the official draw, and the company pays out from its own funds (often backed by insurance) if your numbers come up. You never own a ticket, and you are relying entirely on the operator’s solvency and terms to be paid.
Buying in person in the US
The only way to hold an official ticket with no middleman is to buy one yourself while physically in a selling US jurisdiction. Powerball’s own rules confirm that non-residents may buy from licensed retailers if they meet the local minimum age, and that prizes are claimed where the ticket was bought. This is realistic only if you are travelling there anyway.
Access Methods Compared
| Method | How it works | Do you own a ticket? | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Courier / concierge service | Buys a real US ticket in your name and scans it to your account | Yes, a genuine ticket | Big wins may need an in-person US claim; added fees |
| Lottery betting site | You bet on the draw outcome; the operator pays out if you match | No — no ticket at all | You rely on the company’s funds and terms to be paid |
| Buying in person in the US | You buy an official ticket yourself while in a selling state | Yes, bought directly | Only practical if you are travelling to the US |
Costs, tax and claiming a prize
Three costs catch New Zealanders out:
- Service fees and exchange rates. Couriers and betting sites charge more than the US face value, and your winnings are converted back to New Zealand dollars at whatever rate applies, which can move for or against you.
- US tax. The United States applies a flat 30% federal withholding to the gross lottery winnings of non-resident aliens, taken before you receive anything. Individual states may withhold more. This is very different from New Zealand, where Lotto NZ prizes are paid tax-free.
- Claiming large prizes. Big wins typically cannot be paid into an overseas account automatically; the US jurisdiction’s claim rules, deadlines and in-person requirements apply.
For a tax-free, locally regulated alternative, playing through Lotto NZ’s own channels such as MyLotto keeps your money inside the New Zealand system with full consumer protection — something no overseas service can offer.
Risks and things to check first
If you still want to follow the US draw, weigh these points:
- There is no New Zealand regulator standing behind an overseas site, so disputes are governed by foreign law.
- Confirm the service is licensed somewhere reputable, uses secure (encrypted) payment pages, and sets out its payout and claim terms in writing.
- Expect identity and age verification, and keep every purchase confirmation.
- Treat it strictly as entertainment. The odds are the same astronomical odds every player faces, and no service, system or “strategy” improves them.
If your interest is really in chasing an overseas jackpot, it is worth knowing the same constraints apply to other foreign games — our guide to whether you can play Oz Lotto in NZ walks through a near-identical set of options and cautions for the Australian draw.
Who this suits
Playing the US Powerball from New Zealand is possible but awkward: you pay a premium, you lose 30% of any win to US tax, you have little protection if a site fails, and a jackpot could mean a trip to America to collect. For most people, the local games offer better value, full regulation and tax-free prizes. The US Powerball is best thought of as a novelty flutter on a record jackpot rather than a sensible everyday play — and only ever with money you can afford to lose.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It does not encourage gambling or the purchase of any lottery ticket, and it is not legal, financial or tax advice. Lotteries are games of chance; no service, system or set of numbers improves your odds, and you should only ever play with money you can afford to lose. Playing overseas lotteries from New Zealand carries legal, tax and consumer-protection risks described above. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential help is available in New Zealand from the responsible gambling resources and from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655, any time of day or night.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a US Powerball ticket directly from New Zealand?
No. US lotteries do not sell tickets to people outside the United States, and Lotto NZ does not sell the American game. The only routes are a courier service that buys a ticket for you, a betting site where you wager on the outcome, or buying in person while you are in the US.
Is it legal for a New Zealander to play US Powerball online?
The Department of Internal Affairs says it is not illegal for someone in New Zealand to take part in gambling on an overseas-based website, but running such gambling inside New Zealand is prohibited and there is no local consumer protection if a site fails you. It is a grey area you enter at your own risk, and this is not legal advice.
How much does a US Powerball ticket cost?
A single play is US$2, with optional Power Play and Double Play add-ons at US$1 each. Overseas services charge more than this face value once their fees and currency conversion are added.
Would I pay tax if I won the US Powerball?
Yes. The United States withholds a flat 30% of the gross winnings of non-resident aliens, and some states withhold more. That is unlike New Zealand, where lottery prizes are paid tax-free.
How are the US Powerball numbers drawn?
You choose five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball from 1 to 26. Draws take place in Florida every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 pm US Eastern Time, which is the following afternoon in New Zealand.
