Western Australia is set for its biggest lottery opportunity on record, with a $100 million Powerball jackpot to be drawn on Thursday night.
A single WA ticket claiming the division one prize would surpass the State’s current record of $80 million, won by a syndicate of women from a northern suburbs gym in December 2021.
The jackpot is the largest Powerball prize of 2026 and only the 13th time in the game’s 30-year history that it has reached nine figures. It is also the sixth-largest jackpot in Australian lottery history.
After five consecutive draws without a division one winner, the prize has climbed to $100 million. A sole winner would share the distinction of being Australia’s third-biggest lottery winner.
New South Wales has produced seven of the past 16 major Powerball jackpots this year, while NSW and Victoria together account for 12 of the 16 national division one wins.
Queensland has recorded two winners in 2026, with one each in Tasmania and WA. South Australia and the Northern Territory are yet to produce a winner this year.
Lotterywest chief executive Colin Smith said Western Australia’s three biggest Powerball prizes — $80 million, $63 million and $53 million — had all gone to syndicates.
“We hope that the WA tradition continues with another syndicate win as these big jackpots offer a great chance for friends, family and workmates to come together and share the cost of entry — and hopefully a win,” he said.
Powerball tickets expected to surge before cut-off
Lotterywest expects demand to be highest between 4pm and 5pm on Thursday, when more than 770 tickets a minute are forecast to be sold.
Players have been advised to buy their tickets early to avoid queues before the 6pm sales cut-off.
Official syndicates can be registered through a Lotterywest retailer, giving each member an individual registered ticket. They must have at least five members, with each person spending a minimum of $5, while players can also join syndicates organised by local retailers.
The latest jackpot run is expected to raise about $20 million for the WA community. Powerball contributed more than $110 million to the community during the last financial year.
Western Australia has recorded three division one Powerball wins since the game last reached $100 million in June 2025.
Those winners included a Mandurah couple who won $50 million and chose to retire to spend more time with their young family, a Peel region woman who collected $20 million, and a Pilbara grandfather who won $10 million in January and planned to travel around Australia in a new caravan.
