The Georgia Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday evening at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. This means that the next Georgia Powerball drawing will be held tonight, Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
The Georgia Powerball is one of the biggest lottery games in the United States. Played in 45 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Powerball offers some of the biggest jackpots in the country. The Georgia Lottery began offering Powerball tickets in 1995, giving Georgia residents the chance to win life-changing sums of money.
Powerball drawings are held twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. This consistent drawing schedule gives players in Georgia two opportunities every week to try their luck at winning a Powerball jackpot. To participate, players purchase a Powerball ticket by picking five main numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. The Power Play add-on feature can also be purchased for an additional $1 per play to potentially multiply non-jackpot winnings.
To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls in any order as well as the red Powerball. The starting guaranteed jackpot is $40 million, but it continues rising until a winning ticket is sold. Jackpots have climbed into the hundreds of millions and even billions of dollars before a grand prize winner is determined.
Past Georgia Powerball Winners
Despite immense odds against winning, there have been several major Georgia Powerball winners over the years who have taken home massive jackpots:
- In December 2016, a group of 11 coworkers from Americus split a $421 million jackpot after playing together for years using the same numbers.
- In June 2019, a Macon man won a $1 million prize after his Quick Pick ticket matched all five white balls. He did not play the Power Play.
- In January 2012, a group of 20 coworkers from the Rising Sons Baptist Church in Atlanta split a $241 million jackpot.
- In October 2018, two truck drivers from Macon and Midville scanned their tickets and realized they had won a $345.2 million jackpot.
These winners represent some of the biggest Georgia Powerball victors to date. Their stories help fuel the dreams and hopes of future players looking to win big.
How to Play the Georgia Powerball
Playing the Georgia Powerball requires selecting five main numbers and one Powerball number on a play slip or having the lottery terminal randomly select the numbers (called a Quick Pick). Here are the steps to play:
- Visit an authorized Georgia Lottery retailer and ask for a Powerball play slip.
- Mark five different numbers from 1-69 in the upper portion of the play slip.
- Mark one number from 1-26 in the Powerball field at the bottom.
- Submit the completed play slip and payment to the retailer.
- Receive a ticket with the selected set of numbers.
- Wait for the 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time drawing to take place on draw nights.
- Check the winning numbers to see if they match the selection on your ticket.
Players also have the option to let the lottery terminal randomly pick the numbers by requesting a Quick Pick ticket. This allows the computer system to generate a random set of numbers on a ticket for the next drawing.
How to Win the Georgia Powerball Jackpot
Hitting the jackpot requires matching all six numbers on a Powerball ticket – the five white balls plus the red Powerball. The odds of doing this are incredibly steep at 1 in 292,201,338. While challenging, jackpots are won a few times a year by lucky players able to defy the odds. Here is an overview of the other ways to win smaller Powerball prizes and their odds:
| Prize Level | Match | Odds (1 in…) |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Prize | 5 white balls + Powerball | 292,201,338 |
| $1 million | 5 white balls | 11,688,053.52 |
| $50,000 | 4 white balls + Powerball | 913,129.18 |
| $100 | 3 white balls + Powerball | 36,525.17 |
| $100 | 4 white balls | 36,525.17 |
| $7 | 3 white balls | 575.53 |
| $7 | 2 white balls + Powerball | 701.32 |
| $4 | 1 white ball + Powerball | 91.97 |
| $4 | Powerball only | 38.32 |
As shown in the odds chart, even matching just the Powerball offers a shot at a prize. While the jackpot is elusive for most, smaller rewards are attainable by matching even just a single number.
Tonight’s Georgia Powerball Drawing
The next Georgia Powerball drawing is scheduled for tonight, Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The estimated jackpot for tonight’s drawing is $20 million, although this amount could rise before cut-off as more tickets are purchased around the country. Tonight’s drawing will be the 571st drawing since the last time a ticket matched all six numbers to win the Powerball jackpot. That winning ticket was sold in Pennsylvania on August 3, 2022.
In order to participate in tonight’s drawing, players will need to purchase their Powerball tickets by 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time tonight from authorized Georgia Lottery retailers. Tickets cost $2 each, although the Power Play add-on for an extra $1 can increase non-jackpot prizes. Players can submit their tickets for the 10:59 p.m. drawing until around 15 minutes before the scheduled drawing time.
To watch tonight’s Powerball drawing, Georgia players can tune into local television stations that air the live drawings. They can also live stream the drawing online at powerball.com. The winning numbers will be displayed on the Powerball website shortly after the conclusion of the drawing and will also be released through local news and lottery media channels.
Players are encouraged to carefully check their tickets after the drawing using the GA Lottery’s official mobile app or at a retailer. Jackpot and grand prizes must be claimed at the headquarters in Atlanta, while smaller prizes can be claimed at retailer locations. Players who match even just the Powerball tonight could win $4 at minimum.
With a $20 million jackpot up for grabs, many Georgia lottery players will be anxiously awaiting the results of tonight’s 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time Powerball drawing. The winning numbers will set off a wave of celebration across the state if a Georgian ticket matches all five white balls and the Powerball. For now, eager participants must wait a few more hours to see how much Powerball fortune finds Georgia tonight.
Buying Powerball Tickets in Georgia
Powerball tickets can be purchased in Georgia from any authorized lottery retailer across the state. Here are some tips for buying tickets:
- Look for lottery retailers with the distinctive blue Powerball and Georgia Lottery signage in windows and inside stores.
- Common lottery ticket retailers include gas stations, convenience stores, liquor stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies.
- Use cash to pay for Powerball tickets, as credit card purchases are prohibited.
- Players must be at least 18 years old to play. Be prepared to show ID.
- Sales cut-off occurs at least 59 minutes before the 10:59 p.m. ET drawing on draw nights.
- Buy tickets early on draw days to avoid lines. Sign up for advance play to purchase entries for multiple future drawings.
Some key Powerball ticket-buying tips include identifying authorized retailers, paying with cash, and purchasing entries before the pre-draw sales cutoff time. Players can find a list of retailers in their area on the Georgia Lottery’s website.
Winning the Georgia Powerball Jackpot
Hitting the jackpot is an incredibly rare occurrence because of the immense odds against matching all six numbers. But it’s life changing when it happens, often turning the winner into an instant millionaire. Here are some keys to keep in mind when playing for a Georgia Powerball jackpot:
- Buy more tickets – Increase your odds by purchasing multiple entries using different number combinations.
- Join an office pool – Coworkers, friends or family can pool money to buy more tickets and share in any prizes.
- Use key dates – Birthdays, anniversaries and other special dates can be used as your numbers.
- Mix odd and even – Use a combination of odd and even numbers to hit different possibilities.
- Get Quick Picks – Letting the computer randomly select entries generates different number sets.
While winning the jackpot involves lots of luck, using these strategies can help increase your chances just a bit. After a win, be sure to sign the ticket, consult legal counsel, and call the Georgia Lottery headquarters.
Unclaimed Georgia Powerball Prizes
With so much excitement over the big jackpots, players sometimes forget to check their tickets. This leads to millions of dollars in unclaimed Powerball prizes every year across all participating states. According to the Georgia Lottery, the following significant Georgia Powerball prizes have gone unclaimed in recent years:
- $1 million prize in Lawrenceville from July 2018 draw
- $50,000 prize in Norcross from September 2019 draw
- $50,000 prize in Duluth from December 2019 draw
- $150,000 prize in Jonesboro from January 2020 draw
The deadline to claim Georgia Powerball prizes is 180 days from the draw date. Unclaimed prizes are kept by the lottery for additional promotions and special events. Players are reminded to check tickets carefully after drawings using the Georgia Lottery’s official app or website.
Georgia Powerball FAQ
How much does it cost to play Powerball in Georgia?
Powerball tickets cost $2 per play in Georgia. Players also have the option to add the Power Play multiplier for an extra $1 per ticket to increase non-jackpot prizes.
What days are the Georgia Powerball drawings?
Powerball drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday night at 10:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
What is the biggest Georgia Powerball jackpot won so far?
The largest Georgia Powerball winner to date was a $345.2 million jackpot shared by two ticket holders in October 2018.
Where does Powerball ticket money go in Georgia?
Georgia Lottery Powerball sales contribute to education in the state. Since 1993, over $23 billion has gone to support pre-K, scholarships, and more.
Can Georgia residents buy Powerball tickets online?
No, Georgia residents cannot purchase lottery tickets online. Tickets must be bought in person from authorized retailers located within the state.
Conclusion
The Georgia Powerball offers residents two exciting opportunities each week to become millionaires. Drawings take place at 10:59 p.m. ET every Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets can be purchased in advance from any authorized lottery retailer around the state. While winning the jackpot involves astronomical luck, smaller prizes are more attainable. Remember to check tickets carefully after the drawing. Unclaimed prizes expire after 180 days. Powerball ticket revenue supports important educational programs. Players hoping to win big can purchase entries for tonight’s drawing until 10:00 p.m. The next shot at a jackpot comes around quickly with a drawing just three days away. The Georgia Lottery makes playing and winning the Powerball fun and easy.
