Record-Breaking $1.5 Billion Florida Lottery Jackpot Draw Tonight — Check Your Numbers Now

Florida Lottery Fever: Powerball Rockets to $850 Million, Mega Millions Nears $300 Million Powerball jackpot enters top-10 territory Florida players are again chasing life-changing money after Wednesday night’s Powerball drawing boosted the grand prize to an estimated $850 million with a $383.7 million cash option, the sixth-largest Powerball purse on record. Winning numbers for Aug. 27 • White balls: 9 - 12 - 22 - 41 - 61 • Powerball: 25 • Power Play: 4X As of Thursday morning, lottery officials had not confirmed a ticket matching all six numbers, meaning the prize could surge again before the next drawing on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 10:59 p.m. ET. Mega Millions creeping toward $300 million While Powerball dominates the headlines, the Mega Millions jackpot is also climbing, sitting at an estimated $277 million for Friday night’s draw after no ticket hit Tuesday’s $253 million top prize. Tuesday’s winning combination was 7-12-30-40-69 with Mega Ball 17. Where and how to buy tickets in Florida • Tickets cost $2 per play at any of the Florida Lottery’s 13,000+ licensed retailers. • Sales for Powerball and Mega Millions close nightly at 10 p.m. ET; online ticket sales end earlier on the Lottery’s official mobile app. • Add Power Play or Megaplier for $1 to multiply non-jackpot prizes. Deadline to claim your prize Winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim jackpots, but only 60 days to opt for the lump-sum cash payout, according to Florida Lottery rules. Can winners stay anonymous? State law makes a winner’s name and city of residence public; however, prizes of $250,000 or more are shielded from disclosure for the first 90 days, giving big winners time to set up trusts and legal protections before their identities are released. Odds of striking it rich • Powerball: 1 in 292.2 million • Mega Millions: 1 in 302.6 million • Jackpot Triple Play: 1 in 9.44 million Tips for players 1. Set a budget and stick to it; each $2 ticket has the same odds regardless of when you buy. 2. Consider joining an office pool to increase coverage without spending more. 3. Sign your ticket immediately; it is a bearer instrument in Florida. 4. If you win big, consult an attorney, a CPA and a financial planner before claiming. Why jackpots are exploding Both multistate games changed their starting jackpots and rollover formulas in 2020, allowing prizes to grow faster when sales spike. A summer travel boom and heightened social media buzz are fueling record-breaking ticket sales across the Sunshine State this week. Bottom line With Powerball closing in on $1 billion territory and Mega Millions not far behind, Florida Lottery retailers are bracing for long lines through Labor Day weekend. Whether you play quick picks or your favorite family birthdays, one thing is certain: someone will eventually match the right six numbers—and it could be a Floridian.