Checking your ticket after a long day is a weirdly specific kind of stress. You’re standing there in your kitchen or sitting in your car, squinting at those tiny red and white circles on a piece of thermal paper, wondering if your life just changed. If you’re looking for the Powerball winning numbers Illinois players need for the Saturday, January 17, 2026, drawing, you're in the right spot.
The estimated jackpot for tonight sits at a cool $179 million.
If you decide to take the cash—which, let's be honest, most people do—you're looking at a lump sum of roughly $81.5 million before the tax man takes his cut. That's a lot of cheddar. But before you start picking out floor mats for a car you don't own yet, you actually have to match the numbers.
The Numbers for January 17, 2026
The drawing happens at 9:59 PM Central Time. Because the verification process takes a few minutes across all the participating states, the official results usually trickle in shortly after.
For the last drawing on Wednesday, January 14, the winning numbers were 6, 24, 39, 43, 51 and the Powerball was 2. The Power Play multiplier was 2x. Nobody hit the big one then, which is why we're staring at $179 million tonight.
If you’re checking a stack of older tickets, here’s a quick look at the recent history:
- Monday, Jan 12: 5, 27, 45, 56, 59 | PB: 4 | PP: 2x
- Saturday, Jan 10: 5, 19, 21, 28, 64 | PB: 14 | PP: 3x
- Wednesday, Jan 7: 15, 28, 57, 58, 63 | PB: 23 | PP: 2x
Honestly, it's easy to get these mixed up if you have a pile of them on your nightstand. Double-check the dates. It sounds stupid, but people miss out on smaller prizes all the time because they looked at the wrong Wednesday.
How Illinois Handles Your Win
Illinois is a bit unique. You’ve got options. If you bought your ticket on the Illinois Lottery app or website, the system usually notifies you. For prizes $600 and under, the money just drops into your account. Easy.
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But if you’re holding a physical ticket from a gas station in Joliet or a 7-Eleven in Chicago, the rules change.
The $600 Threshold
Anything up to $600 can be claimed at most lottery retailers. Just walk in, hand them the ticket, and they’ll give you the cash—assuming they have enough in the register. If it’s a weirdly large amount of small winners that day, they might tell you to come back or go to a claim center.
Mid-Range Wins ($601 to $10,000)
This is where the e-Claim system becomes your best friend. You don’t have to drive to Springfield or Des Plaines. You can scan your ticket through the Illinois Lottery app and submit it electronically. You'll need a photo of the front and back of the signed ticket.
A check usually arrives in your mail in about three to four weeks.
The Big Stuff (Over $10,000)
If you’ve actually hit the jackpot or even a $1 million Match 5 prize, put the ticket in a safe. Seriously. Sign the back of it immediately. That piece of paper is "bearer instrument," meaning whoever holds it, owns it—until your name is on the back.
You’ll need an appointment at one of the five Illinois claim centers:
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- Chicago: James R. Thompson Center (though verify if they've moved offices recently due to renovations).
- Des Plaines: 9511 Harrison St.
- Fairview Heights: 15 Executive Dr.
- Rockford: 200 S. Wyman St.
- Springfield: 101 West Jefferson St.
What People Get Wrong About Anonymity
In Illinois, you can't just hide forever if you win the jackpot. Since 2018, the law allows winners of prizes over $250,000 to keep their names private, but there’s a catch. You have to specifically request it at the time of the claim.
If you don’t say anything, the Lottery might publish your name, hometown, and the amount you won as part of their public record requirements. If you're part of a "Lottery Pool" or group, this gets even more complicated. You’ll need to fill out IRS Form 5754 so everyone gets taxed individually rather than one person taking the hit for the whole group.
The Taxes: A Reality Check
Don't spend $179 million in your head. You won't see all of it.
First, the feds take 24% off the top as a withholding tax. Then, because this is Illinois, the state takes its 4.95% cut.
If you take the lump sum of $81.5 million, you're actually walking away with somewhere in the neighborhood of $58 million after the initial withholdings. And remember, you'll likely owe more to the IRS when you file your returns because the top federal tax bracket is 37%.
Actionable Steps for Illinois Players
- Sign the back: Do it now. Use a blue or black pen.
- Check the Multiplier: If you paid the extra $1 for Power Play, your non-jackpot prizes can be doubled or tripled. Don't leave a $100 prize on the table thinking it’s only $50.
- Download the App: Even if you like paper tickets, use the app's scanner. It’s more reliable than your tired eyes at 11 PM.
- 60-Day Rule: You have 60 days from the drawing date to decide if you want the Cash Option or the Annuity. If you wait 61 days, the state defaults you to the 30-year annuity payments.
- Set a Limit: It's a game. If you're chasing losses, take a break. Illinois offers a self-exclusion program if the "fun" part of the lottery has disappeared.
The next drawing after tonight will be Monday, January 19. If nobody matches all six tonight, expect that $179 million to jump closer to $200 million by Monday morning. Keep your ticket in a cool, dry place; thermal paper fades if you leave it on a sunny dashboard, and a blank ticket is a worthless ticket.