The Lotto Matrix: Looking For That First Multistate Winner Of 2026

First things first

How much is Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing worth? The Mega Millions jackpot is worth $230 million, near “big boy” status, with the fifth drawing of the new year and 13th since someone in New Jersey won a $90 million jackpot Dec. 2. The cash option enters nine figures for the first time at $105.1 million.

It has been a slow start to 2026 for Mega Millions players, as only two people have matched all five numbers without the Mega Ball, resulting in a $4 million winner in Pennsylvania and $3 million winner in Missouri. Estimated ticket sales have averaged slightly more than $5.5 million the first four drawings, with the Jan. 2 drawing the only one likely to have generated more than $6 million in sales.

How much is Saturday’s Powerball jackpot drawing worth? The Powerball jackpot has already grown by more than $100 million entering its seventh drawing of the year. There is $179 million up for grabs, though those who absolutely gotta have it now can take the cash option of $80.8 million.

Five of the first six Powerball drawings have produced at least one millionaire, with Wednesday providing a $2 million winner in Texas via the power play option and a $1 million winning ticket in Tennessee.

Three of the eight people who have matched all five numbers thus far ticked the power play option. The 13 tickets that contained four numbers and the Powerball on Wednesday night paid out a combined $900,000.

The first six drawings have averaged more than $11 million in estimated ticket sales, with the Jan. 10 drawing the likely high-water mark with an estimated $14.7 million worth of tickets produced. More than 591,000 people matched at least the Powerball that drawing and the Jan. 3 drawing was the only other one to record at least 500,000 prizewinners.

Powerball to launch ‘Millionaire for Life’ in February

Powerball announced Thursday that its first “Millionaire for Life” drawing will be Feb. 22. The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) first conceived the idea last year and began marketing it to states. Thirty of them will definitely be offering the $5 ticket for the first drawing, and the New York Lottery is expected to give regulatory approval prior to next month’s initial drawing.

The grand prize is $1 million a year for life and has a guaranteed 20-year payout. Second prize is $100,000 a year for life. The MUSL has not released full details of the drawing, but clues offered by the Wyoming Lottery show it to be similar to Powerball and Mega Millions. Players must pick five numbers from 1 to 58, then a separate drawing for the “Millionaire Ball” from 1 to 5.

Hoosiers may get iLottery

Long a state considered next in line for internet casino gaming, Indiana legislators this year decoupled iLottery from that process in hopes of legalization.

House Bill 1078, sponsored by state Rep. Ethan Manning, took its first notable step last week, advancing out of the Public Policy Committee with a 9-3 vote. It will now be up for consideration in the full lower chamber.

Manning, who has seen dual-purpose bills die without a full House vote in previous sessions, called the maneuver “something different to take a smaller bite at the apple” at the Jan. 6 hearing according to SBC Americas.

Powerball presenting sponsor of Disc Golf Pro Tour

Powerball is putting its name on the Disc Golf Pro Tour, having reached an agreement Monday to be its presenting sponsor. The move comes as the DGPT is celebrating its 10th year with a 15-event season that includes stops in Charlotte, Austin, and Portland, Oregon.

In addition to the Tour now being called Disc Golf Pro Tour Presented by Powerball, there will be further branding with the 2026 Powerball Cup; the season-long points race will be renamed Powerball DGPT World Standings and the season-closing events will have a banner of the Powerball DGPT Playoffs.

“For years, Powerball has brought the country together to dream big – and now we’re ready to play even bigger with the DGPT,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “This partnership allows Powerball to get outside, connect with DGPT’s growing fan base, and highlight how the game helps improve local communities.”

Newsworthy nuggets

Florida man (allegedly) hits the ground running for 2026: Florida Lottery officials were able to thwart an ill-gotten, six-figure payout that led to the arrest of a man in Palm Beach County. Jaweed Areeb presented a winning Fantasy5 ticket to the Florida Lottery Office in West Palm Beach, where a scan of the ticket as part of the electronic verification process revealed it to be stolen.

The scan exposed that the ticket from the Oct. 2 drawing had been stolen from its owner in North Lauderdale. The following month, a Florida Lottery law enforcement agent asked Areeb how he obtained the ticket, to which the 26-year-old responded he got the ticket from his uncle, who told Areeb not to identify him when cashing the ticket.

Investigators went to Areeb’s home earlier this month, where he admitted he knowingly submitted a false lottery claim form to try to and claim the ticket’s prize of $115,734. Areeb was arrested and charged with major fraud and grand theft. It is not known if the uncle has faced any charges.

Pennsylvania Pappy Madness: If you live in the Keystone State, you have until 5 p.m. Friday to register for lotteries that will give residents and licensees an opportunity to purchase more than 1,400 bottles of rare whiskeys.

There will be three separate lotteries and only one entry per household per drawing is allowed. Duplicate entries will be disqualified.

The Van Winkle lottery has the largest lot of whiskeys available at 1,062 bottles, highlighted by a Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Straight Bourbon 23 Year Old that can be purchased for $449.99 by the winner. A total of 773 bottles of the Van Winkle Special Reserve Straight Bourbon 12 Year Old are available for $149.99.

The lot of Buffalo Trace Antique Collection bottles totals 324, with all 750-milliliter bottles priced at $149.99. There are 168 bottles of Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof and 60 apiece of George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof and William Larue Weller Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof.

The final lot is 48 bottles, all of the Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Bourbon Limited Edition Bottled in Bond that can be purchased for $149.99 each by the winners.

Who has the biggest active individual state lotto jackpot? The first Lotto Matrix of 2026 sees a familiar face atop the state lottery-run leaderboard in California, where $20 million is at stake Friday. Two states are riding shotgun in second in Texas and Florida: Both are offering $16 million jackpots, with the former having an $8.84 million cash option available.

Illinois slots into fourth with $11.15 million available Saturday night, while New Jersey ($10.8 million) edges Massachusetts ($10.5 million) for the final spot in the top five.

The multi-state Lotto America has a drawing Saturday with a $12.98 million jackpot that carries a $5.86 million cash option.

Until next week, dream big, check your numbers, keep your tickets where you can find them, and play responsibly!