Georgia's Record Jackpots
As one of the original Mega Millions member states, Georgia has produced some of the largest lottery winners in American history. The state's most notable win came in 2018 when a single ticket sold in Simpsonville (shared with a South Carolina winner) contributed to a $1.537 billion Mega Millions jackpot -- the second-largest in U.S. lottery history at the time. Georgia has also produced multiple Powerball jackpot winners since joining the game in 2010. Across all games, the state has created hundreds of millionaires over its three decades of operation. For strategy guides on these games, see our Powerball Guide and Mega Millions Guide.
Fantasy 5 and Cash4Life Winners
While the mega-jackpot games produce the headline-grabbing wins, Georgia's in-state games create winners more frequently. Fantasy 5 produces jackpot winners regularly thanks to its favorable 1 in 850,668 odds, with top prizes often reaching $200,000 or more before being claimed. Cash4Life has awarded multiple Georgia players the top prize of $1,000 per day for life, providing guaranteed income for decades. These mid-tier games deliver more consistent wins and shorter gaps between jackpots compared to Powerball and Mega Millions.
Digit Game Winners
Cash 3 and Cash 4 produce the highest volume of winners in Georgia, with three drawings every day generating thousands of prize-winning tickets annually. While individual prizes are smaller (up to $500 for Cash 3 Straight and $5,000 for Cash 4 Straight on a $1 play), the frequency of play and payout makes these games popular among regular players. Georgia FIVE, with its $50,000 top Straight prize, fills the gap between the daily digit games and the larger lotto draws.
Georgia Lottery Taxes
Georgia withholds 5.75% in state income tax on lottery prizes over $5,000. Combined with the 24% federal withholding rate, Georgia winners face an effective withholding rate of approximately 29.75%. Georgia has no local income taxes, so unlike states such as New York (where NYC adds up to 3.876%) or Maryland (with local taxes up to 3.2%), the state rate is the only state-level deduction. Georgia's state income tax rate is scheduled to decline to 4.99% by 2027 under recent tax reform legislation, which will benefit future lottery winners. For a detailed tax breakdown, see What Happens When You Win and Tax-Free Lottery States.
Claiming Your Prize in Georgia
Georgia Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. Prizes of $600 or less can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery retailer. Prizes of $601 to $25,000 can be claimed at district offices or by mail. Prizes over $25,000 must be claimed at Georgia Lottery headquarters in Atlanta. Bring a valid photo ID and your signed winning ticket. Georgia does not allow fully anonymous claiming, though winners of prizes over $250,000 may establish a trust or LLC to claim on their behalf. Use our Jackpot Tax Calculator to model lump sum vs. annuity after taxes.
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