CA Lottery Alert: Massive Jackpot Up for Grabs Tonight—Winning Numbers, Odds & Tips

California dreaming: Powerball surges past $640 million and Mega Millions climbs again—what CA Lottery players need to know right now Record-chasing jackpots • Powerball jumped to an estimated $643 million after no ticket matched all six numbers in the August 18 drawing, the largest prize offered by the game so far in 2025. • Mega Millions sits at $216 million for the next draw on August 19, continuing a summer streak of rollovers. • SuperLotto Plus, California’s in-state game, offers $35 million on August 20, giving players three shots at life-changing money this week. Latest winning numbers & local winners Monday’s Powerball numbers were 15-46-61-63-64 and Powerball 1; the Power Play multiplier was 3. No jackpot hit, but one ticket sold at a 7-Eleven in Los Angeles matched five numbers to snag $80,000 thanks to the optional Power Play. Why the prizes are ballooning Powerball and Mega Millions both changed their game matrices in recent years, lengthening odds to create larger carryovers. California, which joined Powerball in 2013, is one of the top-selling states; every rollover adds tens of millions in ticket sales, quickly inflating the grand prize pool. Where and when to buy • Tickets are sold until 7:00 p.m. PT on draw days at more than 23,000 California Lottery retailers. • Powerball draws Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:59 p.m. PT; Mega Millions draws Tuesdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. PT. • Players must be 18+. The CA Lottery reminds customers to “Play Responsibly.” How much you actually take home California is one of only a few states that do not tax lottery winnings at the state level, but the IRS withholds 24 % upfront. For the current $643 million Powerball, the lump-sum cash value is roughly $310 million; after federal withholding, the immediate check would be about $236 million. Winners may also elect a 30-year annuity that pays the full advertised amount before taxes. Odds & strategy • Powerball jackpot odds: 1 in 292.2 million • Mega Millions jackpot odds: 1 in 302.6 million Buying more tickets increases cost faster than it improves probability. Experts say join an office pool or syndicate to spread risk—just draft a written agreement on how to split winnings. How to check tickets & claim Players can scan tickets with the CA Lottery mobile app, watch the live draw stream on the Lottery website, or compare against posted results after 8:00 p.m. PT. Prizes up to $599 can be claimed at retailers; larger wins must be processed through District Offices or mailed. Jackpot winners are required to appear in person at Lottery Headquarters in Sacramento to complete security vetting and choose cash or annuity. Community impact Since 1985 the CA Lottery has contributed more than $42 billion to public education. Roughly 95 cents of every dollar spent on tickets returns to the state in the form of prizes, retailer commissions and school funding, according to Lottery reports. Key takeaways for this week 1. Two giant multistate jackpots plus SuperLotto Plus make this the busiest California Lottery week of the year. 2. Ticket cutoff times are strict—plan a retailer run well before 7 p.m. PT. 3. Sign the back of your ticket immediately and keep a digital photo as proof. 4. If lightning strikes, consult a tax attorney and financial planner before you claim. With lines already forming at convenience stores from San Diego to Redding, California Lottery fever is back. Whether chasing nine-figure dreams or playing for the classroom, Golden State players have three chances to turn pocket change into a headline-making fortune before the weekend.