Powerball and Mega Millions Jackpots Soar Ahead of Weekend Drawings

Ohio Lottery also sees big payouts in Thursday's daily game results.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:18am

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An extreme close-up of the intricate mechanical components and gears of a lottery machine, bathed in warm, golden light against a dark background, conceptually representing the inner workings and infrastructure of the lottery system.The complex machinery and infrastructure behind the record-breaking lottery jackpots continue to captivate players and generate excitement.Cleveland Today

The Mega Millions jackpot has reached $130 million for the Friday, April 17, 2026 drawing, while the Powerball prize stands at $75 million for the Saturday, April 18 drawing. In addition, Ohio Lottery's Thursday evening drawings saw significant wins in Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Rolling Cash 5.

Why it matters

Lottery fever is sweeping the nation as the two biggest multi-state jackpots continue to climb, generating excitement and anticipation among players hoping to win life-changing sums of money. The Ohio Lottery results also highlight the consistent popularity of the state's daily draw games.

The details

The Mega Millions jackpot for the Friday, April 17, 2026 drawing has reached $130 million, while the Powerball prize for the Saturday, April 18 drawing stands at $75 million. In Ohio, Thursday's evening lottery drawings saw significant wins, with the Pick 3 winner receiving $500, the Pick 4 winner receiving $5,000, and the Rolling Cash 5 jackpot growing to $150,000 for the next drawing.

  • The Mega Millions drawing will take place on Friday, April 17, 2026.
  • The Powerball drawing will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
  • The Ohio Lottery's Thursday evening drawings occurred on April 16, 2026.

The players

Mega Millions

A multi-state lottery game with drawings held twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Powerball

A multi-state lottery game with drawings held three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

Ohio Lottery

The state lottery of Ohio, offering a variety of draw games and instant scratch-off tickets.

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What’s next

Players will be eagerly awaiting the results of the Mega Millions and Powerball drawings this weekend, hoping to win the large jackpots. The Ohio Lottery will continue its regular daily drawings, with the next set scheduled for Friday, April 17, 2026.

The takeaway

The growing Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are generating significant excitement and anticipation among lottery players, while the Ohio Lottery's consistent daily game results demonstrate the enduring popularity of state-level lottery offerings.