You’re standing at the Safeway checkout in Renton or maybe a 7-Eleven in Spokane. The neon sign says the jackpot is sitting at $193 million. You spend the two bucks. You get the ticket. Then, you wait.
Checking powerball numbers in washington state has become a ritual for thousands of us every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday night. But honestly, most people just glance at the screen, see they didn’t hit the big one, and toss the slip. That is a massive mistake. You might be leaving thousands of dollars on the counter because you don't understand how the secondary prizes or the "Double Play" feature actually works in the Evergreen State.
The Latest Results and Why They Matter
If you missed the drawing on Saturday, January 17, 2026, the winning numbers were 5, 8, 27, 49, 57 with a Powerball of 14. The Power Play multiplier was 4x.
Nobody hit the big jackpot, which is why we’re looking at that $193 million estimate for Monday. But here’s the kicker: even though there was no billionaire-maker that night, Washington had thousands of winners. In fact, for that specific drawing, one lucky person in Washington matched four white balls and the Powerball to snag **$50,000**.
Did they check their ticket? Hopefully.
Recent Winning Numbers (January 2026)
- January 17, 2026: 5 - 8 - 27 - 49 - 57 (Powerball: 14)
- January 14, 2026: 6 - 24 - 39 - 43 - 51 (Powerball: 2)
- January 12, 2026: 5 - 27 - 45 - 56 - 59 (Powerball: 4)
It's sorta wild when you think about it. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning while being eaten by a shark. Yet, people in Washington win smaller prizes every single week.
The Double Play Factor
Most people skip the "Double Play" option because it costs an extra dollar. Basically, it’s a second drawing that happens right after the main one. The numbers you picked for the main game get run again for a top prize of $10 million.
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On January 17, the Double Play numbers were 1, 4, 6, 34, 56 with a Powerball of 19.
If you’re playing the lottery anyway, that extra dollar significantly changes your math. It doesn't change the jackpot odds, but it gives your specific set of numbers a second life. Think of it as a "buy one, get one" for your luck.
Where the Winners Are Hiding
Washington's Lottery tracks every win, and the data is pretty fascinating. Recently, we've seen a surge of winners in places you might not expect.
In mid-January 2026 alone, a player named Fengwei W. grabbed $270,000 from a ticket bought at Ballard Stop in Seattle. Another player, Sangyong P., took home $10,000 from a Safeway in Everett. These aren't life-changing "buy a private island" amounts, but they’re "pay off the car and take a vacation" amounts.
We see wins popping up at the Grady Way Shell in Renton, the Yoke’s Fresh Market in Richland, and even the Sea-Tac Airport. If you're traveling, that airport kiosk isn't just a place to waste time; it's a legitimate retail terminal.
How to Actually Claim Your Money
If you find out your powerball numbers in washington state matched, don't run to the news station yet.
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First, sign the back of that ticket. Seriously. In Washington, a lottery ticket is a "bearer instrument." That’s legal speak for "whoever holds it, owns it." If you drop an unsigned winning ticket and someone else picks it up, it’s theirs.
The Claiming Process
If you won $600 or less, you can usually just go back to the grocery store or gas station. They’ll scan it and pay you out of the register. Easy.
For prizes between $601 and $100,000, you’ve got two choices. You can mail it in (risky for the heart, honestly) or visit one of the regional offices. Washington has lottery offices in:
- Olympia (Headquarters)
- Federal Way
- Everett
- Spokane
- Yakima
- Vancouver
Anything over $100,000 requires a trip to a lottery office in person. You’ll need a valid photo ID and your Social Security card.
The "No State Tax" Perk
Here is something most people forget: Washington is one of the best states to win the lottery in. Why? Because we have no state income tax.
If you win in New York, the state takes a massive bite out of your winnings before you even see a dime. In Washington, you only have to worry about the federal government. For prizes over $5,000, the lottery automatically withholds 24% for federal taxes. If you hit a massive jackpot, that rate likely jumps to 37% when you file your year-end taxes.
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Still, keeping that extra 5% to 9% that other states would have taken is a huge win.
Common Misconceptions
One thing people get wrong constantly is thinking they can stay anonymous. Washington state law is pretty clear: the Lottery is a public agency. That means your name and the city where you bought the ticket are public record.
You can’t just hide behind a mask and stay a mystery. However, some winners choose to form a legal trust. This doesn't totally erase your name from the process, but it can add a layer of privacy between you and the "long-lost cousins" who will inevitably start calling.
Another myth? "The machines are due."
Every drawing is independent. The fact that the number 5 came up on Saturday has zero impact on whether it will come up on Monday. The balls don't have memories.
Actionable Next Steps for Players
If you’re holding a ticket or planning to buy one for the next $193 million draw, do these three things:
- Download the official Washington’s Lottery app. It has a scanner. It's way more reliable than squinting at a grainy screenshot of the numbers on social media.
- Check the "Double Play" and "Power Play" boxes. If you match four numbers without Power Play, you win $100. With a 4x multiplier like we saw on Saturday, that $100 becomes $400. It turns a "nice dinner" win into a "new TV" win.
- Check your old tickets. You have 180 days from the drawing date to claim your prize. There are currently millions of dollars in unclaimed prizes sitting in drawers across Washington.
Winning isn't likely. We all know that. But if you're going to play, you might as well do it with the right information. Keep your tickets dry, sign the back immediately, and always double-check those secondary numbers.