Honestly, we’ve all done it. You’re standing at the gas station in Hamden or a package store in Norwalk, looking at that neon sign blinking a ridiculous number of zeros, and you think, "Why not?" You grab a ticket, shove it in your wallet, and then—life happens. You forget to check. Or worse, you check the powerball numbers in connecticut on some random third-party site and get the wrong info. It happens way more than you'd think.
Let’s get the immediate business out of the way first. If you’re holding a ticket for the most recent drawing on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the winning numbers were 6, 24, 39, 43, 51 and the Powerball was 2. The Power Play multiplier was 2x.
If you matched some of those, don't quit your job just yet, but definitely don't toss the slip of paper. Even a $4 win covers your next coffee.
How the Connecticut Powerball Actually Works (The Nuance)
People in the Nutmeg State often treat the lottery like a monolith, but the way Connecticut handles Powerball has its own specific quirks. We aren't just part of a national pool; we have our own claiming rules and tax bites that catch people off guard.
For starters, drawings happen three times a week now: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 10:59 PM. Most folks still think it’s just Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you’re sitting there on a Tuesday wondering why the results haven't updated, that’s why. You have until 10:00 PM on drawing nights to get your wager in. If you walk into a Cumberland Farms at 10:01 PM, you’re buying for the next drawing. Period.
The jackpot for the upcoming drawing on Saturday, January 17, 2026, is sitting at an estimated $179 million. The cash value is roughly $81.5 million. That's a huge gap, right? That’s the first thing people get wrong—they see $179 million and forget that Uncle Sam and Governor Lamont take their cut before you even see a dime.
The Tax Reality in CT
Connecticut is not one of those "no-tax" lottery states like Florida or Texas. If you win big here, you’re looking at a double-whammy.
- Federal Withholding: 24% (automatically taken for prizes over $5,000).
- State Withholding: 6.99%.
Basically, the state of Connecticut wants its nearly 7% right off the top. If you win a $100,000 prize—like someone in Windsor just did on January 13, 2026—you aren't actually putting $100,000 in the bank. You’re putting significantly less. It’s better to go in with your eyes open so you aren't shocked when the check arrives.
Where the Big Winners are Hiding
You might think only the "lucky" towns win, but the data shows winners pop up everywhere from Greenwich to Putnam. The biggest win in Connecticut history was back in 2011—a massive $254.2 million jackpot sold in Greenwich. More recently, in February 2022, someone in Cheshire nabbed $185.3 million.
Just this past week, the CT Lottery headquarters in Wallingford has been busy. We had a $1 million winner in Fairfield on January 14 and that $100,000 Powerball winner from Windsor I mentioned earlier.
The variety is wild. One day it's a gas station in East Haven, the next it's a grocery store in Unionville. There is zero rhyme or reason to it, despite what the "system" players tell you.
📖 Related: Why 007 The World Is Not Enough Game Still Matters Decades Later
Checking Your Powerball Numbers in Connecticut Without the Stress
Don't trust a screenshot your cousin sent you. Go straight to the source. The CT Lottery Official Web Site or the official Powerball site are the only places that matter.
If you think you’ve won, sign the back of that ticket immediately. In Connecticut, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." That’s legal-speak for "whoever holds it, owns it." If you drop a winning ticket on the floor of a Stop & Shop and someone else picks it up, and you haven't signed it? You’re basically out of luck.
Claiming Your Prize: The Tiers
The process for getting your money depends entirely on how much you won.
- Under $600: Take it to any lottery retailer. Most will pay you out in cash on the spot, though some small shops might not have the funds in the register if it's a busy day.
- $600 to $5,000: You can do this by mail or at one of the High-Tier Claim Centers (like in Norwalk or New London).
- $5,001 to $49,999: Mail it or head to the main HQ in Wallingford.
- $50,000 and up: You’re going to Wallingford. No exceptions. You’ll need two forms of ID, and honestly, you should probably call a financial advisor before you even get in the car.
Common Misconceptions About the Numbers
"The numbers are due for a repeat." No. Every single drawing is independent. The balls don't have a memory.
"I should play the same numbers every time." You can, but it doesn't actually change your odds. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338. To put that in perspective, you’re more likely to be struck by lightning while being eaten by a shark. Sorta.
Wait, people also love the "Quick Pick" vs. "Manual Pick" debate. About 70-80% of winners are Quick Picks, but that’s only because 70-80% of people buy Quick Picks. It’s math, not magic.
👉 See also: Cover of Vogue Dress to Impress: Why Your Look is Getting One Star
What to Do Right Now
If you have a stack of tickets in your glove box, go grab them. You only have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim a prize in Connecticut. After that, the money goes back into the prize pool or to the state’s general fund. Don't let your $50,000 winner expire because you didn't feel like scanning it.
- Check the date: Make sure you're looking at the right Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday.
- Look for the Powerball: Even if you miss all the white balls, matching just the red Powerball gets you $4.
- Check for Double Play: If you paid the extra dollar for the Double Play feature, there's a second set of numbers drawn. For January 14, those were 6, 20, 28, 47, 48 with a Powerball of 3.
Your next step is simple: download the official CT Lottery app. It has a built-in scanner that uses your phone's camera. It’s the fastest way to know if you’re a millionaire or if you just donated $2 to the state's education fund. If it’s a big win, keep it quiet, sign the ticket, and head to 15 Sterling Drive in Wallingford.