You're standing in a gas station in Macon or maybe scrolling through the app in Atlanta, and you've got that one-dollar bill. It's the same story every night for thousands of Georgians. We all want to see those five little circles line up. Honestly, Fantasy 5 is the "Goldilocks" of the Georgia Lottery. It isn't impossible to win like Powerball, but it pays way better than a scratcher.
Basically, if you're looking for the fantasy five georgia winning numbers, you’re participating in a daily ritual that has been turning regular people into jackpot winners since the 90s.
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What Really Happened With the Latest Results
Last night, the balls dropped at 11:34 p.m., just like they do every single night of the year. For the drawing on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the numbers were 1, 10, 27, 30, and 35.
The jackpot for that specific night was sitting at a sweet $930,000. That is a lot of house payments. When nobody hits all five, the money rolls over. It grows. It gets heavy. Just last year, in May 2025, a lucky person in Cartersville snagged a record-breaking $2.48 million jackpot. That shattered the previous record of $2.3 million.
If you didn't see your numbers last night, you aren't alone. But check your ticket for the "match two" prize. Most people toss their tickets if they don't see four or five matches, but matching just two numbers gets you a free Quick Pik for the next draw. It’s a small win, sure, but it keeps you in the game for free.
How the Game Actually Works
You've got 42 numbers to choose from. You pick five. That’s it.
Unlike the big national games, there's no "Mega Ball" or "Powerball" to worry about here. It is just a straight set of five. Each play costs exactly one dollar. You can play up to 14 consecutive drawings if you’re the type who likes to "set it and forget it."
The Ca$h Match Factor
There's this little add-on called Ca$h Match. It costs an extra buck.
People usually ask: "Is it worth it?"
Well, it’s basically an instant-win game printed right on your Fantasy 5 ticket. If any of your Fantasy 5 numbers match the Ca$h Match numbers printed below them, you win the amount shown instantly. You don't even have to wait for the 11:34 p.m. drawing. You can win up to $500 right there at the counter. The odds of winning something on Ca$h Match are about 1 in 2.96.
Fantasy Five Georgia Winning Numbers: The Odds Nobody Talks About
Let's be real for a second. You aren't "due" for a win. The balls don't have a memory.
The odds of hitting the jackpot—matching all five numbers—are 1 in 850,668.
Compare that to Powerball’s 1 in 292 million.
Suddenly, 1 in 850k feels like a walk in the park, right?
Here is the breakdown of what you're actually looking at when you check the fantasy five georgia winning numbers each night:
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- 5 Matches: Jackpot (Starts at $125,000). Odds: 1 in 850,668.
- 4 Matches: Average prize is around $100-$200 (pari-mutuel). Odds: 1 in 4,598.
- 3 Matches: Usually pays about $10-$15. Odds: 1 in 128.
- 2 Matches: A free $1 Quick Pik ticket. Odds: 1 in 11.
The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 10.06. That's actually pretty decent for a jackpot game.
Common Mistakes When Checking Results
I've seen it happen a hundred times. Someone checks the numbers on a third-party website and gets excited, only to realize the site hasn't updated since three days ago.
Always use the official Georgia Lottery app or galottery.com.
If you bought your ticket at a retail location, you can scan it yourself at the little terminal.
And for heaven's sake, sign the back of your ticket immediately.
In Georgia, lottery tickets are "bearer instruments." That’s a fancy legal term. It basically means whoever holds the signed ticket owns the prize. If you drop an unsigned winning ticket and someone else finds it and signs it, that's their $900,000 now. Don't let that be you.
Why the Jackpot Amounts Change
You'll notice the jackpot isn't a round number most of the time. That’s because it’s "pari-mutuel."
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Basically, the prize pool is determined by how many tickets were sold. If a lot of people play, the jackpot jumps up faster. If three people all match the fantasy five georgia winning numbers on the same night, they split that jackpot three ways.
If nobody wins, the Georgia Lottery Corporation rolls the funds over to the next day. This is why you'll see it go from $125,000 to $250,000 to over $700,000 in a matter of weeks.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Play
If you're heading out to grab a ticket or opening the app, here is how to handle it like a pro:
- Check the cutoff time: Sales for the nightly drawing stop at 10:45 p.m. ET. If you buy at 10:46 p.m., you're playing for tomorrow's numbers.
- Use the "Multi-Draw" option: If you have "lucky" numbers, play them for 7 or 14 days at once. It saves you the trip and ensures you don't miss a night when your numbers finally pop up.
- Scan, don't just look: Human eyes make mistakes, especially at 11:45 p.m. Use the app’s ticket scanner to verify your numbers.
- Claiming small wins: Prizes up to $600 can be claimed at any authorized Georgia Lottery retailer. If you win more than that, you're heading to a District Office or the headquarters in Atlanta.
- Keep the 180-day rule in mind: You have exactly 180 days from the draw date to claim your cash. After that, the money goes back to the state to fund the HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs.
Checking the fantasy five georgia winning numbers is a bit of a daily thrill for a lot of us. Whether you use your kids' birthdays or just let the computer pick, the math is the same. Just play smart, sign your ticket, and maybe keep that day job for at least one more morning.