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Powerball player misses jackpot, but still wins big in Georgia. Where was ticket sold?

A Powerball ticket
A Powerball player in Georgia walked away with a big win despite missing the jackpot. USA TODAY NETWORK

A Georgia lottery player didn’t hit the Powerball jackpot — but still walked away with $100,000.

The lucky player snagged the six-figure prize after matching four numbers and the Powerball in the drawing Wednesday, Dec. 18, just missing the estimated $71 million jackpot, results show.

They normally would’ve won $50,000 but spent an extra $1 on the Power Play option, doubling their winnings.

The winning ticket was sold at a Petrol Point Station in Peachtree City, about a 30-mile drive southwest from downtown Atlanta, a Georgia Lottery official told McClatchy News.

The winning numbers Dec. 18 were 6-15-18-33-49 and red Powerball 7, according to the lottery game’s website. The Power Play option was 2x.

Someone in California won $1 million after matching five numbers but not the Powerball, results show. There were no $2 million winners, and no one hit the jackpot, pushing the grand prize to an estimated $88 million ($41 million cash value).

Winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize, and players are encouraged to sign the backs of their tickets, the Georgia Lottery said.

The next Powerball drawing is Saturday, Dec. 21.

What to know about Powerball

To score the jackpot in the Powerball, a player must match all five white balls and the red Powerball.

The odds of scoring the jackpot prize are 1 in 292,201,338.

Tickets can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times and price vary by state.

Drawings are broadcast Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:59 p.m. ET and can be streamed online.

Powerball is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
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