With the $30 million Powerball draw just hours away on May 8, 2025, hopeful Australians lined up for their shot at a life-changing jackpot. The excitement reached a peak when a Cessnock man emerged as the sole winner of the night, pocketing the entire prize. The winning numbers for Powerball draw 1512 were 33, 32, 35, 14, 15, 7, and 34, with the Powerball number being 12.
Upon receiving the call from The Lott, the ecstatic winner exclaimed, “Holy sh**! Bless you, man! Bless you!” His joy was palpable as he laughed uncontrollably, overwhelmed by the enormity of his win. “I just had this ticket on the fridge. I was looking at it this afternoon and thought, ‘wouldn’t it be lovely to win?’” he recalled, noting that the ticket had been sitting beside his bills. “There will be no more worrying about bills now. I don’t care if I get a bill now!”
The man, who has not been named, expressed his plans for the newfound wealth, saying, “For a start, I’ll look at buying a new house and looking after the family. Then, I’ll take it from there.” His winning entry was a 12-game QuickPick purchased at Shell Aberdare Newsagency, located at 68 Aberdare Road, Aberdare.
Anna Hobdell, a spokesperson for The Lott, shared insights into the reactions of winners after the draw. Many winners initially struggle to believe that they have won. “It’s certainly quite hard to convince people over the phone that they’ve scored millions of dollars,” she stated in an interview with Yahoo News Australia. Often, winners require reassurance that the call is not a scam. “We’re just calling from a random 07 number, because we’re in Queensland, so it’s quite hard to convince people,” she explained.
Heartwarming reactions are common when winners process their initial shock. Hobdell recounted a particularly touching moment with a Lismore flood victim who won $1 million. “He told me when he read out the winning numbers to his mum across the table, she just started to cry,” she recalled. Such stories highlight how lottery wins can profoundly impact people’s lives, especially those facing tough circumstances.
Another memorable call involved a Knoxfield woman who won $2.8 million. “I could just tell how much this win meant for her, and that really made me emotional as well,” Hobdell said, reflecting on the joy and relief that financial security can bring to those in distressing situations.
However, Hobdell cautioned that winners often make the mistake of rushing into decisions about their newfound fortune. “The biggest mistake a winner could make is rushing into their decisions,” she advised. Winners have to wait two weeks to receive their funds, which gives them time to consider their options and seek financial advice.
For those who purchase tickets in-store, claiming the prize involves either visiting The Lott’s head office or mailing in the ticket. In contrast, online players see their winnings automatically deposited into their accounts after the two-week waiting period.
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot in Australia are a staggering 1 in 134,490,400, making it a rare feat. In fact, players are more likely to be struck by lightning or encounter a shark attack than to hit the jackpot. Even for Oz Lotto, the odds of winning Division 1 are 1 in 62,891,499. Despite the slim chances, millions of Australians participate in the lottery each week, hoping for a life-changing win.
In the financial year 2025, 395 Australians have claimed a division one Powerball prize, with 120 of those being residents of New South Wales. The Lott recorded 422 division one winners in 2024, including 19 Powerball entries that collectively pocketed over $758 million in prizes. Notably, the largest jackpot in Australian history was offered last year, totaling $200 million, with an Adelaide man winning $150 million.
As excitement builds for the next Powerball draw on May 15, 2025, which boasts a $10 million jackpot, many Australians are left dreaming of their own winning moment. The stories of winners like the Cessnock man serve as a reminder of the life-changing potential of these draws, even as the odds remain daunting.
For anyone struggling with gambling issues, resources are available. Australians can visit Gambling Help Online or call 1800 858 858 for support.