Seven different probability environments
The game began in 1992 with a 45-number white field and a 45-number Powerball field. The modern 69/26 matrix debuted in October 2015. Comparing records across the full archive requires remembering that the underlying opportunity set changed.
Era draw counts
| Era | Draws |
|---|---|
| 45/45 | 578 |
| 49/42 | 514 |
| 53/42 | 302 |
| 55/42 | 350 |
| 59/39 | 316 |
| 59/35 | 388 |
| 69/26 | 1,405 |
A record is only meaningful with its definition
The encyclopedia separates raw counts, era-specific leaders, droughts, pairs, sums and other records. That prevents one statistic from being presented as if it were a universal measure of luck.
Method and responsible interpretation
The figures on this page are drawn from the verified historical dataset used to produce The Powerball Encyclopedia. Historical frequency, droughts, pairs, streaks and records describe past drawings. They do not predict future random drawings or provide a guaranteed winning method.
Independent reference published by Tudor Books. Not affiliated with, sponsored by, authorized by, or endorsed by the lottery organizations whose historical games are discussed.