$1B Powerball Jackpot On The Line As GA Player Wins $2M

After no recent winners, the Powerball jackpot has reached an estimated $1 billion for Wednesday's drawing.

With an estimated cash value of $433.1 million, the immense jackpot is the eighth largest in the game’s history and the largest lottery jackpot so far this year.

"The growth of this jackpot reflects an extraordinary level of player interest,” said Stephen Durrell, Powerball product group chair and Kansas Lottery executive director, in a news release.

“Ticket sales for (Monday) night's drawing exceeded expectations and increased more than 86% compared to the previous Monday drawing. We're also continuing to see strong participation from both new players in the United Kingdom and millions of Americans who join in as the jackpot reaches the $1 billion mark."

While hopefuls are targeting the Powerball jackpot, Georgia Lottery officials on Wednesday said someone has become $2 million richer with a scratch-off. Elsewhere, playing a digital game on the Georgia Lottery app was beneficial for a nearly $13,000 winner. (More below.)

Powerball

The odds of winning the $1 billion Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, and the odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9.

The last time a Georgia player won the Powerball jackpot was on Oct. 23, 2024, when a $478 million ticket was claimed.

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Georgia has had four jackpot winners since 2003. Together, they claimed jackpots totaling $943.1 million.

Powerball tickets cost $2 with a $1 PowerPlay add-on option.

To play the lottery game in Georgia, people must buy their tickets by 10 p.m. on draw nights. Drawings are held at 11 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The Georgia Lottery Corporation provides lists of retailers offering tickets. Players only need to submit their zip codes to find nearby locations.

Tickets can also be purchased via the Georgia Lottery app.

The drawing will be broadcast live from a studio in Florida and livestreamed via Powerball.

Recent Lottery Winners In Georgia

A scratch-off was worth $2 million for a Cumming lottery player, Georgia Lottery officials said Wednesday.

The lucky winner purchased the $2 Million Dollar Multiplier scratcher from a Canton Highway convenience store, according to the Georgia Lottery Corporation. They claimed the prize Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a Lawrenceville resident who played the Pantheon Payout: Lightning diggi game won $12,843 on Tuesday. The game is available on the Georgia Lottery app.

By The Numbers

All funding from the Georgia Lottery's digital games, scratch-offs and other games benefit education in the Peach State, lottery officials said.

"More than half of every $2 Powerball ticket purchase remains in the jurisdiction where it is sold, helping fund public programs and services that benefit local communities. Since 1992, Powerball has generated an estimated $38 billion for good causes, including education and scholarships, veteran services, parks and recreation and more," representatives for the game stated in a news release.

Online winning tickets have an expiration date of 180 days from the drawing date while instant ticket winners have 90 days from the expired date to claim prizes. Instructions on how to receive prizes are here.

Georgia takes 5.75 percent in state taxes and 24 percent in federal taxes for winnings more than $5,000.

"The (Georgia Lottery Corporation) reports to the IRS and Georgia Department of Revenue the names of winners of prizes above $600. ... Additionally, the GLC is required to check for and deduct any outstanding child support payments for prizes of $2,500 and above and student loans and state taxes for prizes of $5,000 and above, net of wager or ticket cost," lottery officials said on the Georgia Lottery website.