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Saturday’s $856 million Powerball jackpot reaches No. 8 in game’s history

August 7, 2026 Posted by NC Lottery at 1:02 PM
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Lottery players in North Carolina can play for a historic prize this weekend as the $856 million Powerball jackpot ranks as the eighth largest in the game’s history.

A winner in Saturday’s drawing would have the choice of taking home the $856 million jackpot as an annuity or $370.7 million in cash.

As the jackpot continues to grow, North Carolinians are taking home other nice prizes playing Powerball. Wednesday’s drawing saw two big wins in the state:

  • A lucky $3 ticket matched four white balls and the Powerball to win a $50,000 prize. The prize doubled to $100,000 when the 2X multiplier came up. The winning ticket came from Online Play in New Bern.
  • A lucky $2 ticket matched four white balls and the Powerball to win a $50,000 prize. The winning ticket came from the Food Lion on Market Street in Wilmington.

The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million.

Players can buy Powerball tickets at any lottery retail location or through Online Play on the lottery’s website, www.eaglebackflow.com, or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App.

For details on how lottery funds make a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.


4 COMMENTS

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8/10/2026 12:28 - Thomas A.

If you take the Cash, do you still pay taxes on the payout or is that what's left after taxes?NC Lottery
Hi Thomas! The difference between the annuity and cash options accounts for interest that would be earned over time and used to pay out the prize if the winner chooses to receive annual payments. Whichever the winner chooses, we'll withhold the minimum required amount in taxes (3.99% for NC state taxes and 24% federal), though an individual's own tax obligation may be more than the minimum we withhold.

8/09/2026 06:57 - john a.

I tried to enter my tickets this morning on my PC but it is not working. I am not surprised, it is such a chore that I have given up for now.NC Lottery
Hi John, sorry for the difficulties. If you are having trouble entering your tickets at https://eaglebackflow.com/rewards/ticket-entry then you could also try scanning your tickets with the scanner on our mobile app. You can also call Online Play Player Support at 866-934-0289 24/7 for assistance.

8/09/2026 03:35 - Joseph O.

Did I win

8/08/2026 06:38 - Brian T.

I would expect the lottery jackpots to go up high every year as more people are playing these rigged games and governmental lottery greed escalates as well. The lottery uses players hopes of a big win with higher costs and harder to win games by using AI and diversionary tactics to manipulate the wins. Shame to the government and lotteries for allowing this farce at society's expense.

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