A $2 Powerball ticket made someone a multimillionaire over the holidays. Will there be a big Florida Lottery winner before Groundhog Day?
As they say in the lottery business, “it could happen to you.”
After one lucky ticket from a Circle K convenience store matched all six numbers in the Saturday, Nov. 15, Florida Lotto drawing for $3.75 million, the jackpot reset to $1 million for Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Then 21 more rollovers led to more money: The jackpot was up to $20.5 million for the Saturday, Jan. 31, Florida Lotto drawing after no one matched all six numbers in the Wednesday, Jan. 28, draw. Saturday’s winning Florida Lotto numbers were 4-8-16-22-27-36. Double Play numbers were 16-17-33-39-48-50. We’ll see if there’s a winner or another rollover.
In case you’re wondering, Wednesday’s winning Florida Lotto numbers were 6-13-28-31-38-52. The Double Play numbers were 1-18-34-49-51-52.
Since this is a game about numbers, interestingly, the Saturday, Jan. 17, winning Florida Lotto numbers were 3-17-22-29-36-37 and the Double Play numbers were 17-36-37-38-39-42.
While the Florida Lotto jackpot steadily climbs, one billion-dollar jackpot winner is likely enjoying their big windfall: A Murphy USA gas station at a Walmart Supercenter in Cabot, Arkansas, sold the winning Powerball ticket worth $1.817 billion from the Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, Christmas Eve drawing.
The jackpot is Powerball’s second-largest of all time and one of 14 times a Powerball or Mega Millions lottery jackpot reached or surpassed $1 billion or more. The Christmas Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 24, winning Powerball numbers were 4-25-31-52-59 and the Powerball was 19. Power Play was 2x. On Jan. 22, 2026, it was announced the $1.817 billion Powerball winner came forward and elected to stay anonymous, according to the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
Below is what to know about lottery odds, how long to claim the cash option if you bought a ticket in Florida, and what happens to unclaimed prize money, according to the Florida Lottery.
Winning Florida Lotto numbers for Saturday, January 31, 2026? 4-8-16-22-27-36
Florida Lotto drawings are at 11:15 p.m. ET every Wednesday and Saturday, including holidays. Saturday, Jan. 31, winning Florida Lotto numbers were 4-8-16-22-27-36. Double Play numbers were 16-17-33-39-48-50. We’ll see if there’s a winner or another rollover, particularly before Groundhog Day.
America’s favorite holiday about a groundhog checking its shadow is back. Again! With Groundhog Day, which is Feb. 2 every year, weather fans will see whether six more weeks of winter or an early spring is in the forecast. Pending, of course, Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow.
And like those in Florida who gather on the beach to watch sea turtles crawl back into the ocean after rehabilitation, the people of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, will be watching a cute, kind of hefty woodchuck crawl out of its burrow.
Groundhog Day is Monday, Feb. 2, 2026.
How do you play Florida Lotto lottery game?
According to Florida Lottery game rules, Florida Lotto players pick 6 numbers between 1 and 53 or select a Quick Pick ticket. There are prizes for matching three to six numbers. Players who match two of 6 winning Florida Lotto numbers get a free ticket.
The Florida Lottery site states game add-ons include Double Play for $1, a bonus drawing where players could win up to $250,000 using the same numbers (Double Play drawings are held immediately after Florida Lotto drawings). Another Florida Lotto game add-on is EZmatch for $1 per play. If players match any EZmatch number to their Florida Lotto numbers, they instantly win that prize.
Tickets start at $2. Good luck!
When was the last Florida Lotto jackpot won? How long the jackpot has rolled over
The Florida Lotto jackpot was last won Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. Circle K, 3225 W. Nine Mile Road, Pensacola, sold the winning Quick Pick ticket worth $3.75 million.
The new lottery jackpot reset at $1 million for Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Below is a recap of lottery drawings for the latest streak and how long it’s taken to get to the current prize.
When is the next Florida Lotto drawing? What are the odds, chances of winning Florida Lotto lottery?
Florida Lotto drawings are held at 11:15 p.m. ET Wednesdays and Saturdays, including holidays. According to floridalottery.com, players have a 1 in 22,957,480 chance to match all six numbers whether the jackpot is $1 million or $36 million. Prizes range from $2 to the grand prize jackpot, which varies.
The next Florida Lotto drawing will be Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026.
How long do you have to cash in a Florida Lottery ticket?
Prizes for Florida Lottery must be claimed within 180 days (six months) from the date of the drawing. To claim a single-payment cash option, a winner has within the first 60 days after the applicable draw date to claim it.
Does the Florida Lottery reveal lottery winners? Can you stay anonymous if you win lottery in Florida?
According to Florida Lottery’s website, winners cannot remain anonymous: “Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide records containing information such as the winner’s name, city of residence; game won, date won, and amount won to any third party who requests the information.”
However, the site states, the “names of lottery winners claiming prizes of $250,000 or greater will be temporarily exempt from public disclosure for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless otherwise waived by the winner.”
Does Walmart sell lottery tickets? Where to buy lottery tickets in Florida
In Florida, most gas stations and some grocery stores sell lottery tickets. It’s harder to find a gas station that doesn’t sell Powerball, Mega Millions, Florida Lottery and scratch-off tickets than it is to find one that does.
Publix also sells lottery tickets and is known for selling many winning tickets. A lesser-known location is Walmart. Whether the Walmart location closest to you sells lottery tickets depends on your state and the store. Many Walmart locations in Florida have self-service lottery ticket vending machines or sell lottery tickets at the customer service desk.
You can use the “Where to Play” search tool on the Florida Lottery website to find a grocery store or gas station near you that sells lottery tickets.
(This story was updated with new information.)
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida Lotto for Saturday, Jan. 31, $20.5 million before Groundhog Day
Reporting by Jennifer Sangalang and Lianna Norman, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
