Georgia's Fantasy 5 just made a $1.62M winner — is it you?

It was an ordinary Tuesday night in Georgia until one lucky Fantasy 5 ticket turned into a life-changing fortune. Somewhere out there in Hampton, a player is holding onto a slip of paper worth a staggering jackpot, and the story doesn't end there. Another state also just crowned its own five-ball winner, proving lightning really can strike twice.

Big winner in Georgia

There is a person in Georgia holding onto a jackpot-winning Fantasy 5 ticket from the Tuesday, August 20, 2025, drawing. That ticket happened to match all five of the winning numbers drawn to win the $1.62 million jackpot.

The winning numbers for last night's Fantasy 5 drawing were 5, 12, 17, 36, and 40. The person holding this winning ticket beat odds of 1 in 850,668 to win the top prize.

Lottery officials have not disclosed yet where the winning ticket was purchased. However, if you happen to be holding onto it, you have 180 days to claim your prize. Lottery officials do encourage you to sign the back of your ticket.

Fantasy 5 Wednesdays

While the Fantasy 5 jackpot was won last night, players can still take part in the Fantasy 5 Wednesdays promotion. The jackpot may have reset to $125,000 for tonight's drawing, but that is still a pretty good chunk of change to win.

For this promotion, players who purchase at least one play for Fantasy 5 online between 12:01 am ET and 11:59 pm ET on August 20, 2025, will be eligible to win either $50 or $500 from the Georgia Lottery. This is only for Fantasy 5 tickets purchased online, not for Fantasy 5 tickets purchased at retailers.

From the eligible entrants, 500 winners will be chosen to win $50 in bonus funds added to their online account. In addition, five winners will be chosen to win $500 in bonus funds added to their online account.

These bonus funds can only be used to purchase lottery games and may not be withdrawn.

North Carolina scores a five-ball jackpot

The five-ball draw games are popular in many states. In North Carolina, lottery players have the option of playing Carolina Cash 5. They recently had their own jackpot winner, with a Greensboro man waiting until he got to the claim center to find out he won the $435,915 jackpot.

Rudolph Ruggiero Jr. received a message saying he should go to the lottery headquarters. He didn't check his ticket, but thought he had won a couple of thousand dollars or something.

However, when the lottery employee checked the ticket for him, he found out he won the jackpot. He said he couldn't believe it, and he was shaking. Ruggiero, who has been an electrician for over 50 years, bought his Quick Pick ticket for the August 13 drawing from the Harris Teeter, located on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro.

Before this big win, he told lottery officials that the most he's ever won was $50. After claiming his prize, he walked out of the office with $312,770 after required federal and state tax withholdings. With the winnings in hand now, Ruggiero said he plans on putting the money in the bank and saving for his retirement.

Enjoy playing the Georgia Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.