Associated PressThe price of a Powerball ticket will double next year, but the chances of winning will be easier and the starting jackpot will be going up, too.
Lottery officials say starting Jan.15, the price of a Powerball ticket will go from $1 to $2.
The first five numbers will still be chosen from 1 to 59, but the Powerball number will shrink from 39 to 35 available numbers, giving players better odds.
The starting top prize will double to $40 million. The prize for matching the first five numbers but not the Powerball also will increase to $1 million, up from $200,000.
Powerball is played in 42 states, including Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, and in Washington, D.C.
