Lotto: Powerball $100 million jackpot could smash WA Lotterywest record

Western Australians could be in line for the biggest Lottery win in the State’s history, with a $100 million Powerball jackpot up for grabs on Thursday night.

If a single WA ticket claims the entire division one prize, it would smash the State’s record, eclipsing the $80 million shared by a syndicate of women from a northern suburbs gym in December 2021.

The $100 million draw is the biggest Powerball jackpot of 2026 and only the 13th time the game has reached the nine-figure mark in its 30-year history.

But while WA players dream of a record-breaking windfall, NSW has dominated the big wins in 2026 with seven of the past 16 major jackpots going to tickets bought in the State.

NSW and Victoria have accounted for 12 of the 16 division one Powerball wins recorded nationally.

Two winners have come from Queensland, with Tasmania and WA recording one each, while South Australia and the Northern Territory are yet to produce a winner in 2026.

Lotterywest chief executive Colin Smith said that WA’s three biggest Powerball wins — $80 million, $63 million and $53 million — had all been claimed by 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.

The jackpot is also the sixth-largest in Australian Lottery history.

A single winner would share the title of the country’s third-biggest Lottery winner, while the latest Powerball run is projected to raise about $20 million for the WA community.

After five consecutive draws without a division one winner, the jackpot has climbed to $100 million, with the full prize on offer to a winning entry under the draw’s advertised conditions.

Lotterywest expects ticket sales to peak between 4pm and 5pm on Thursday, with more than 770 tickets a minute forecast to be sold during the rush.

Players are being urged to buy their tickets early to avoid queues ahead of the 6pm sales cut-off.

Those entering as part of a syndicate can register through a Lotterywest retailer, allowing each member to have their own registered ticket.

Official syndicates must have at least five members, each spending a minimum of $5.

Players can also join syndicates organised by their local Lotterywest retailer.

WA has celebrated three division one Powerball wins since the game last reached $100 million in June 2025.

They include a Mandurah couple who won $50 million and decided to retire to spend more time with their young family, a Peel region woman who collected $20 million, and a Pilbara grandfather who landed $10 million in January and planned a lap of Australia in a new caravan.

Last financial year, Powerball raised more than $110 million for the WA community.