On the evening of January 3, 2026, anticipation ran high across Maryland and beyond, as hopeful lottery players clutched their tickets, waiting for the results of the latest Powerball and other state lottery games. For some, it was just another Saturday night ritual; for others, it was a chance at a life-changing windfall. The Maryland Lottery, always a hub of excitement, released the winning numbers for a suite of games, with Powerball taking center stage due to its multi-million-dollar jackpot.
According to the Maryland Lottery’s official results, the winning Powerball numbers for January 3 were 18, 21, 40, 53, and 60, with the Powerball itself being 23 and the Power Play multiplier set at 3. Players across 45 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico tuned in, hoping their numbers matched this combination. The Powerball jackpot for the night stood at an estimated $64 million, a tantalizing sum for anyone dreaming of financial freedom. Should a lucky player have matched all the numbers, the lump sum payout before taxes would be about $28.9 million, as reported by TinBu and corroborated by local Maryland editors.
The Powerball excitement didn’t end with the main drawing. The Double Play feature, available in 13 jurisdictions including Pennsylvania and Michigan, offered players a second shot at winning big. The Double Play numbers drawn were 28, 40, 52, 53, and 54, with the Powerball number 12. This add-on feature, which costs an extra dollar per ticket, gives participants another chance to win up to $10 million in a separate drawing held right after the main event. For Marylanders and others in eligible states, Double Play has become a popular way to stretch their luck just a bit further.
But Powerball is just one of several games keeping Maryland’s lottery players engaged. On January 3, the Maryland Lottery also held drawings for Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, Cash4Life, Cash Pop, and Bonus Match 5. The Pick 3 game saw midday numbers 6-5-2 and evening numbers 4-7-5. For Pick 4, the midday draw yielded 9-8-5-0, while the evening brought 7-8-7-1. Pick 5, another favorite, delivered 8-8-3-4-5 at midday and 7-3-4-6-1 in the evening. Each of these games offers its own unique odds and prizes, providing a variety of ways for players to try their luck.
Cash4Life, a multi-state game known for its “win for life” top prize, drew the numbers 03, 09, 24, 35, and 59, with the Cash Ball being 01. For those who prefer more frequent action, Cash Pop held four separate drawings throughout the day, with winning numbers of 13 at 9 a.m., 10 at 1 p.m., 07 at 6 p.m., and 14 at 11 p.m. Bonus Match 5, another Maryland staple, produced the winning combination 02-05-06-07-38, with the bonus number 09.
Maryland’s lottery system is designed for both accessibility and excitement. Drawings are carefully scheduled: Powerball at 11 p.m. ET on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays; Mega Millions at 11 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and Fridays; and the Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 games offering both midday and evening draws every day. Cash4Life, Cash Pop, and Bonus Match 5 have their own set times, ensuring there’s always a game on the horizon for eager participants. According to the official Maryland Lottery, even Keno drawings occur every four minutes, keeping the action nearly constant.
For those lucky enough to win, Maryland offers a straightforward process for claiming prizes. Retailers can redeem winnings up to $600, making it easy for most players to collect their cash without much hassle. Prizes above $600 require a bit more effort—winners must claim by mail or in person at the Maryland Lottery’s Customer Resource Center in Baltimore, or at participating casinos that are part of the Expanded Cashing Authority Program. For prizes over $5,000, in-person visits are mandatory, with appointments available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the main lottery headquarters.
Winning tickets valued up to $25,000 can also be redeemed at select Maryland casinos, including Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore, MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Live! Casino in Hanover, Ocean Downs Casino in Berlin, Hollywood Casino in Perryville, and Rocky Gap Casino in Flintstone. However, there are some caveats: casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens with tax IDs beginning with “9,” and all casino entrants must be at least 21 years old.
Claiming by mail is a viable option for many. Winners are instructed to sign their ticket, complete a claim form, and include a copy of a valid government-issued ID along with proof of their Social Security or Federal Tax ID number. These documents are then mailed to the Maryland Lottery’s Customer Resource Center in Baltimore. The process is designed to be secure and efficient, ensuring that winners receive their prizes without unnecessary delay.
Powerball, of course, remains the marquee event for many. The odds of winning the jackpot are daunting—one in 292.2 million, as highlighted by the Associated Press and other outlets. Yet, the allure is undeniable. Just a couple of weeks earlier, on December 24, 2025, a single ticket in Arkansas hit the $1.7 billion jackpot, sending shockwaves through the lottery world and fueling dreams for players everywhere. That historic win serves as a reminder that, improbable as it may be, someone always wins eventually.
Participating in Powerball costs just $2 per ticket, with the option to add Power Play for an extra dollar. The Power Play multiplier can significantly boost non-jackpot prizes, making even partial matches worthwhile. Tickets must be purchased by 9:45 p.m. ET on drawing days, giving players a last-minute window to join the action.
For those who want to keep up with the latest results or check past winning numbers, the Maryland Lottery’s website and participating retailers provide up-to-date information. The system is designed to be transparent and accessible, with clear instructions for checking numbers and claiming prizes. As the Maryland Lottery notes, "Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results." It’s a sentiment echoed by players across the state, who know that every drawing holds the possibility—however slim—of a new beginning.
With jackpots rising, games multiplying, and winners emerging every week, Maryland’s lottery scene remains a vibrant part of the state’s culture. For some, it’s just a bit of fun; for others, it’s a shot at something bigger. As the numbers are drawn and the winners step forward, the excitement of possibility continues to draw crowds—one ticket at a time.