Powerball is an American lottery game operated by the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL), a consortium of lottery commissions in 42 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is the second largest lottery game in the U.S. by the winning jackpot size. Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday at the MUSL's headquarters in Urbandale, Iowa, normally at 10:59 pm Eastern Time. Drawings are occasionally scheduled at remote locations; when this occurs, the time may be adjusted, but the day remains the same.

On January 15, 2012, Powerball's minimum advertised jackpot went up to $40 million from $20 million with each game ticket price increased to $2 from $1. Powerball officials believed the increased ticket price would lead to more large jackpots and improved winning odds with the reduction of the number of red balls, the powerballs, from 39 to 35.

The game's largest prize as of August 15, 2012 was $365 million, which was awarded in 2006 to a group of eight co-workers at a Nebraska meat-packing plant.