So, you’re looking for the Kentucky Cash Ball EZmatch winning numbers yesterday. Honestly, I get it. There is something uniquely nerve-wracking and exciting about that moment when you’re staring at a small slip of thermal paper, hoping the universe decided to align in your favor for once.
If you played on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the numbers you need to check are 8, 13, 36, 37, and the Cash Ball was 13.
Wait, did you catch that? The number 13 showed up twice. Once in the main set and again as the Cash Ball. It’s perfectly legal in this game, but it always throws people for a loop. You’ve got to love the weird quirks of probability.
The Reality of Yesterday’s Draw
Let’s be real. Most people check their numbers and immediately feel that sinking "maybe next time" feeling. But if you hit, the top prize for matching all four white balls and the Cash Ball is a cool $225,000. That is life-changing money for basically anyone. Even if you only matched the Cash Ball itself, you still walked away with a buck, which at least covers the cost of the ticket.
How the EZmatch Component Actually Worked
The thing about the Kentucky Cash Ball EZmatch is that it’s actually two games in one. You’ve got the nightly drawing—those are the numbers I just gave you—and then you’ve got the EZmatch part.
If you paid the extra dollar for EZmatch, your ticket had five extra numbers printed on it. If any of those matched your Cash Ball 225 numbers, you won the prize shown next to it instantly. You didn't even have to wait for the 10:59 PM ET drawing.
I’ve seen people throw away winning EZmatch tickets because they were so focused on the nightly draw numbers. Don't be that person. Look at the "Instant Win" section of your ticket. If it says you won $500, you won $500 right then and there at the gas station counter.
Why People Get Confused by the Results
Probability is a fickle beast. Yesterday's draw was particularly interesting because of that double 13. In the Kentucky Cash Ball 225, the four main numbers are drawn from a field of 1 to 35. The Cash Ball is drawn from a separate field of 1 to 25.
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Because they are separate pools, the same number can—and often does—appear in both.
Many players think they’ve been cheated or that there’s a glitch when they see a duplicate. Nope. Just math doing its thing. If you had 13 on your ticket as a regular number but not as the Cash Ball, you only get credit for the regular match.
Payouts from the January 17 Drawing
While we don't have the exact headcount of every single winner across the state of Kentucky yet, the prize tiers are fixed.
- Match 4 + Cash Ball: $225,000 (The Big One)
- Match 4: $2,500
- Match 3 + Cash Ball: $1,000
- Match 3: $25
- Match 2 + Cash Ball: $10
- Match 2: $1
- Match 1 + Cash Ball: $2
- Match 0 + Cash Ball: $1
Basically, if you hit the Cash Ball (13), you at least broke even.
The EZmatch Factor: What Most People Get Wrong
There is a massive misconception that adding EZmatch somehow changes your odds in the nightly drawing. It doesn't.
Think of it like buying a scratch-off that is physically attached to your draw ticket. The computer determines the EZmatch winners at the exact millisecond the ticket is printed. It has zero impact on which balls tumble out of the machine later that night at the Kentucky Lottery studios.
Also, a lot of folks don't realize you can claim your EZmatch prize immediately. You don't have to wait for the drawing. If you win $5 on the EZmatch, the clerk can pay you out and give you an "exchange ticket" for the nightly drawing.
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Strategies That Actually Matter (And Those That Don't)
I'll be honest with you: there is no "secret system" to beat the Kentucky Lottery. I see "experts" online claiming that "cold numbers" are due or that "hot numbers" like 13 are on a streak.
The machine doesn't have a memory.
The balls don't know they were picked yesterday.
However, there are a few practical things you should do:
- Sign the back of your ticket. Seriously. If you drop that $225,000 winner in a Kroger parking lot and it isn't signed, whoever finds it owns it.
- Check the EZmatch area first. It's easy to overlook.
- Use the app. The Kentucky Lottery app has a scanner. Use it. Human eyes are notoriously bad at scanning rows of numbers when we're tired or excited.
- Understand the tax man. If you won the $225,000, you aren't taking home $225,000. Uncle Sam and the Commonwealth of Kentucky are going to take their cut before you ever see a dime.
What to Do If You Won Yesterday
First off, breathe. If you’re holding the ticket with 8, 13, 36, 37 + (13), you’re having a very good Sunday.
For prizes up to $600, you can usually just head back to any Kentucky Lottery retailer. They'll scan it and pay you out in cash right there.
If you won more than $600 but less than $5,000, you can go to certain "Cashing Agent" retailers or a regional lottery office. But if you hit the $225,000 jackpot? You’re making a trip to Louisville. The Kentucky Lottery headquarters is located at 1011 West Main Street.
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Don't just show up at 4:30 PM on a Friday. Give them a call first. You’ll need a valid ID and your Social Security card.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I've talked to enough lottery fans to know where the pitfalls are.
One big one is forgetting that tickets expire. In Kentucky, you have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim your prize. If you're cleaning out your glovebox in August and find a winner from yesterday, you're fine. If you find it in September? That money is gone, redirected to the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) fund.
While that's a great cause, I’m guessing you’d rather have the cash.
Another mistake is playing online versus in-store. While the Kentucky Lottery has a great website, EZmatch is not available for online purchases. If you want that instant-win chance, you have to go to a physical retailer.
Actionable Steps for Today
If you haven't checked your ticket yet, do it now.
- Double-check the date. Ensure your ticket is actually for the January 17 draw.
- Look for the Cash Ball. Did you get the 13? If so, you've won at least $1.
- Scan the ticket. Download the official KY Lottery app and use the ticket checker. It eliminates the "did I read that right?" anxiety.
- Plan your next play. If you didn't win, the next drawing is tonight at 10:59 PM ET.
Keep your ticket in a safe, dry place until you’re 100% sure it’s a loser. And if it is a winner, get that signature on the back immediately. High-tier winners should consult a financial advisor before making any major purchases—yes, even for a "modest" $225,000. It’s better to be smart with the money now than broke in two years.