Checking your Mississippi Powerball lottery numbers has become a bit of a ritual for folks across the Magnolia State. You know the feeling. It’s Saturday night, maybe you just finished a late dinner, and you realize the drawing just happened. You scramble for that crumpled slip of paper in your console. Honestly, most of us are just looking for a reason to dream for a few minutes.
The numbers from the most recent drawing on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, were 6, 24, 39, 43, 51 with a Powerball of 2. The Power Play multiplier was 2X.
If you missed those, don’t sweat it. The next big chance is tonight, Saturday, January 17. The estimated jackpot is sitting at a cool $179 million. If you’re the type who wants the cash upfront—and let’s be real, most people are—the lump sum value is about $80.8 million.
Why checking Mississippi Powerball lottery numbers feels different now
Mississippi was late to the party. We didn't even have a lottery until 2019. For years, people in towns like Natchez or Corinth had to drive across state lines to Louisiana or Tennessee just to get a ticket. Now, you can find a retailer at basically any gas station from the Delta to the Coast.
The "newness" hasn't really worn off yet. People still get a kick out of seeing a local winner. Just this month, a player in Grenada bagged $50,000 on January 5. It wasn't the jackpot, but it’s definitely enough to change a year. Then you had a Match 5 winner in Vicksburg taking home $294,000 on January 8.
Mississippi players seem to have a knack for those secondary prizes. Back in February 2025, a player in Mendenhall turned a $1 million win into **$2 million** just by spending that extra buck on the Power Play.
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The Double Play factor
One thing that confuses a lot of people is the Double Play option. It’s a separate drawing that happens right after the main one. You use the same numbers.
On January 14, the Double Play numbers were 6, 20, 28, 47, 48 with a Powerball of 3.
It costs an extra dollar. Is it worth it? Kinda depends on your philosophy. The top prize for Double Play is $10 million, which is way less than the main jackpot, but the odds are exactly the same. Some people love it because it’s a second life for your ticket. Others think it’s just another way for the house to take an extra buck.
How to actually read your ticket without getting a headache
It sounds simple, right? Match the numbers, win the money. But there’s a bit of nuance to the Mississippi Powerball lottery numbers that catches people off guard.
- Order doesn't matter: The five white balls can be in any order. If you have 24 and they draw it first, or last, it’s still a match.
- The Red Ball is king: You cannot swap a white ball for the red Powerball. It’s its own thing.
- The Power Play multiplier: This only applies to non-jackpot prizes. If you win $4 for matching just the Powerball and the multiplier is 10X, you get $40. But if you win the jackpot, the multiplier does absolutely nothing for you.
The drawings happen every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 9:59 p.m. CT. Most people wait until the next morning to check, but if you’re a night owl, the official Mississippi Lottery website usually has them up within minutes of the balls dropping.
Common myths about the "best" numbers
You’ll hear people at the counter talking about "hot" and "cold" numbers. They’ll say 17 hasn't been drawn in months, so it's "due."
Science says no.
Each drawing is a completely independent event. The plastic balls don't have memories. They don't know they haven't been picked lately. Using your kids' birthdays is fine, but remember that birthdays only go up to 31. Since the white balls go up to 69, you’re statistically cutting yourself off from more than half the available numbers if you only use dates.
What happens if you actually win?
Let’s say you check the Mississippi Powerball lottery numbers and they actually match. First, breathe. Second, sign the back of that ticket immediately. In Mississippi, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." That’s legal-speak for "whoever holds it, owns it." If you drop a winning ticket and someone else finds it, and you haven't signed it, you’re probably out of luck.
You have 180 days to claim your prize. Don't rush to the headquarters in Flowood the next morning. Talk to a lawyer. Talk to a financial advisor.
Mississippi is one of the states that allows you to remain anonymous if you win a big prize. This is huge. In some states, they parade you in front of cameras with a giant check. Here, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation will keep your name private if you ask them to. It saves you from a lot of "long-lost cousins" suddenly calling for a loan.
Taxes: The inevitable buzzkill
The numbers you see on the billboard aren't what you take home. Uncle Sam takes a 24% federal cut right off the top for prizes over $5,000. Then, the state of Mississippi takes another 7%.
Basically, if you win a $1 million prize, you’re looking at taking home somewhere around $690,000. It’s still a lot of money, but it’s a far cry from a million.
Actionable steps for your next play
If you're heading out to buy a ticket for the next drawing, keep these practical tips in mind:
- Use the app: The Mississippi Lottery has an official app. You can scan your ticket to see if it’s a winner instead of squinting at the screen and potentially misreading a digit.
- Check for 2nd Chance: Don’t throw away losing scratch-offs. Mississippi often runs "2nd Chance" promotions where losing tickets can be entered into new drawings. In January 2026, they just gave away nearly $1 million in 2nd Chance prizes to a dozen lucky players.
- Set a limit: It’s a game. Treat it like a $2 or $3 entertainment fee. If you're spending money you need for the Entergy bill, it's not a game anymore.
- Verify the date: Make sure the numbers you are looking at match the date on your ticket. It sounds silly, but people get excited looking at old results all the time.
Check your tickets from the January 14 drawing one more time. If you didn't see 6, 24, 39, 43, 51 (PB 2), it might be time to get your slip ready for the $179 million draw tonight.