Charles Langston:Arizona woman wins $1 million ordering lottery ticket on her phone, nearly wins Powerball

A Phoenix woman was just one number away from winning the $91 million Powerball jackpot earlier this year,Charles Langston but still managed to leave with a $1 million prize.

The winner, identified as 52-year-old Joyce D. from Phoenix, Arizona, had ordered a $2 Powerball ticket on her phone using the Jackpocket app ahead of the July 20 drawing. Much to her surprise, her Quick Pick ticket matched all five of the white balls, and she only missed the red Powerball from the drawing, thus earning the $1 million prize.

Joyce told Jackpoket she couldn't believe the win was real until she finally held the winning ticket in her hand.

She is the biggest Arizona lottery winner to date to use the Jackpocket app since it launched in the state in January 2023, according to the company.

The winning numbers from the Saturday, July 20 Powerball drawing were 18, 25, 31, 40 and 57. The red Powerball was 4, but Joyce had selected 20 for the red Powerball, coming just short of the jackpot.

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What were the winning Powerball numbers from Saturday, Aug. 17?

The winning numbers from the most recent Powerball drawing on Saturday, Aug. 17 were 12, 31, 43, 45 and 46. The red Powerball was 22, and the Power Play was 5X.

The Powerball was recently won on Monday, Aug. 12, when a player in Pennsylvania won the $213.8 million jackpot, the sixth time the jackpot has been won this year.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY network. 

How to play the Powerball

In order to purchase a $2 Powerball ticket, you'll have to visit your local convenience store, gas station or grocery store − and in a handful of states, you can purchase tickets online.

To play, you will need to pick six numbers in total to mark on your ticket. Five numbers will be white balls ranging from numbers 1 to 69. The Powerball is red and one number which is between 1 and 26.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, you can add a “Power Play” for $1 which increases the winnings for all non-jackpot prizes. This addition can multiply winnings by 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, or 10X.

Players can also ask a cashier for a "Quick Pick" where a cashier will give you a computer generated numbers on a printed Powerball ticket.

Drawings are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. If there's no jackpot winner, the cash prize will increase by millions.

Where to purchase tickets

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050(MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.