Lottery fever swept across multiple states on August 26, 2025, as hopeful ticket holders awaited the latest results in a series of popular draw games. From South Dakota to Virginia, and from Mississippi to Louisiana, players checked their numbers with anticipation—some dreaming of multimillion-dollar jackpots, others simply hoping for a lucky break. With several major games releasing their winning combinations, the day offered a snapshot of how these state lotteries operate, the odds and excitement at play, and the procedures winners must follow to claim their prizes.
According to the South Dakota Lottery, the winning numbers for the Mega Millions drawing on August 26 were 07-12-30-40-69, with a Mega Ball of 17. This same combination was drawn in Kansas, Louisiana, and Virginia, reflecting the multi-state nature of the Mega Millions game. The Lucky For Life numbers drawn that night were 05-06-08-17-36, with a Lucky Ball of 12, as reported by both South Dakota and Kansas lotteries. These results set off a flurry of activity as players across the region checked their tickets and considered their next steps.
But Mega Millions and Lucky For Life weren’t the only games in town. In Kansas, the Kansas Lottery announced its Pick 3 Midday result as 6-7-4 and the Evening result as 7-6-7. The 2 By 2 game yielded Red Balls 14 and 19, and White Balls 19 and 22. Meanwhile, in Mississippi, the Mississippi Lottery reported Match 5 numbers of 07-11-23-29-33, Cash 3 Midday as 2-2-2 with a Fireball (FB) of 1, and Cash 3 Evening as 5-3-7 with FB 4. Cash 4 and Cash Pop games added even more variety, with results like Cash 4 Midday 1-0-8-5 (FB 1) and Evening 7-0-6-9 (FB 4), and Cash Pop Midday 07 and Evening 11.
Virginia’s lottery games also offered plenty of action. The Virginia Lottery confirmed the same Mega Millions winning numbers as other states—no surprise given the game’s national reach. For Pick 3, the Night drawing produced 5-1-5 with a Fireball of 8, and the Day drawing was 2-3-6 with FB 5. Pick 4 and Pick 5 games followed suit, with Pick 4 Night at 7-2-6-6 (FB 6) and Day at 9-4-6-1 (FB 9), and Pick 5 Night at 4-1-3-4-3 (FB 8) and Day at 3-2-8-9-3 (FB 3). Virginia also ran Cash4Life (05-11-32-34-39, Cash Ball 04), Cash Pop at multiple intervals throughout the day, and Cash 5 with numbers 02-17-32-35-45.
Louisiana’s players were also glued to their tickets. The Louisiana Lottery confirmed the Mega Millions numbers (07-12-30-40-69, Mega Ball: 17) and reminded winners of the state’s specific prize claim procedures. Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 games, along with Easy 5 and Lotto, rounded out the state’s offerings, with all drawings held at 9:59 p.m. Central Time.
With so many games and so many potential winners, what happens next for those lucky enough to hold a winning ticket? The answer depends on the size of the prize and the state where it was won. In South Dakota, prizes of $100 or less can be claimed at any lottery retailer. For prizes of $101 or more, winners must either mail their claim or present it in person at the Lottery office on Wells Avenue in Pierre. Jackpot-winning tickets for games like Dakota Cash, Lotto America, and Mega Millions must always be presented in person at the Pierre office, ensuring a secure and celebratory payout experience.
Kansas operates under a similar but slightly more generous threshold. According to the Kansas Lottery, retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. Prizes above that amount require a trip to the headquarters in Topeka or a claim by mail. The office, open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., can cash prizes of any amount, and the process involves signing the back of the ticket, filling out a claim form, and providing identification. The state’s approach aims to streamline claims for smaller wins while maintaining security for the bigger payouts.
Mississippi’s system is also tiered. Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized retailer, but anything from $600 to $99,999 must be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters in Flowood or by mail. For the biggest wins—$100,000 or more—winners must appear in person at headquarters, bringing a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card for verification. The state even offers electronic funds transfer for large prizes, making the process more convenient for those who hit it big. Mississippi also imposes a 180-day deadline to claim lottery prizes, adding a sense of urgency for winners to step forward.
In Virginia, while specific claim procedures weren’t detailed in the day’s results, the regularity and frequency of drawings—from Mega Millions every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m., to Pick 3, Pick 4, and Pick 5 twice daily, to Cash Pop five times a day—mean that winners are a common occurrence. The state’s lottery infrastructure is built to handle everything from modest Pick 3 wins to the life-changing sums sometimes awarded in Mega Millions or Cash4Life.
Louisiana sets its retailer payout limit at $600. For prizes above that, winners must submit their tickets by mail or visit the Louisiana Lottery headquarters in Baton Rouge. Any prize over $5,000 must be claimed in person at the headquarters, a safeguard ensuring both security and proper verification for significant payouts. The process involves signing the ticket, completing a claim form, and providing valid identification. Louisiana’s lottery office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, giving winners ample opportunity to claim their prizes in person.
Across all these states, the timing of the drawings is carefully orchestrated. Powerball, for example, is drawn at 9:59 p.m. Central Time on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday in South Dakota, Kansas, and Louisiana. Mega Millions is drawn at 10 p.m. Central Time on Tuesday and Friday in these states, while Virginia holds its Mega Millions drawing at 11 p.m. Eastern Time on the same days. Other games, like Lucky For Life, Pick 3, and Match 5, have their own daily or near-daily schedules, keeping the excitement alive for players all week long.
For many, the lottery is more than just a game of chance—it’s a ritual, a brief escape, and a sliver of hope. Whether they’re buying a ticket at the corner store or checking numbers online, players across South Dakota, Kansas, Mississippi, Virginia, and Louisiana are united by the anticipation of a lucky break. For those who matched the winning numbers on August 26, 2025, the next step is clear: claim their prize, savor the moment, and perhaps start dreaming all over again.