News Summary
In DeRidder, Louisiana, a local family came close to winning the massive Powerball jackpot, missing it by just one number. John Stokes purchased a ticket that matched four white balls plus the Powerball, netting them a $150,000 prize. With the Powerball jackpot soaring to an impressive $1.80 billion, interest in lottery tickets has surged in the state. Numerous other winners have emerged, highlighting the excitement surrounding the lottery, while reminders about claiming tickets within 180 days were issued by the Louisiana Lottery.
DeRidder, Louisiana – A local resident has come close to winning the massive Powerball jackpot worth $1.1 billion, missing out by just a single number. John Stokes purchased his ticket on Monday, September 1, 2025, at Billie’s Wag-A-Bag located on West First Street. Stokes and his family checked the winning numbers that night, discovering they matched four of the white ball numbers and the red Powerball number on their ticket. This fortunate outcome, combined with the Power Play option, ultimately netted them a prize of $150,000.
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Stokes and his family officially claimed their winnings at the Louisiana Lottery’s regional office in Alexandria. The overall experience has left them feeling both shocked and incredibly fortunate. As the weekend approached, the Powerball jackpot had swelled to a staggering $1.80 billion, with a cash value estimate of about $826.4 million. This growing jackpot marks the second-largest in U.S. lottery history, trailing only behind a previous record of $2.04 billion won in California in 2022.
The increase in the Powerball jackpot has drawn significant attention in Louisiana, where interest in the lottery remains high. In recent draws, 45,165 winning Powerball tickets have been sold across the state. Among these, approximately 20,309 winners opted for the Power Play bonus option, which allowed some prize amounts to be significantly increased. For instance, three tickets matched four of the five white balls plus the Powerball in Louisiana, each receiving a $50,000 prize, with two others receiving $100,000 due to the Power Play multiplier effect.
Particularly, winning tickets for the $50,000 prizes were sold at various locations throughout Louisiana, including establishments in Tickfaw, Cut Off, and Folsom. Winning tickets worth $100,000 were sold in Kaplan and Lafayette, showing the widespread success from the latest drawings. Meanwhile, numerous Powerball prizes, such as a $150,000 winner from the July 23 draw sold in Gretna, are still unclaimed. The Louisiana Lottery reminds players that winning tickets must be claimed within 180 days following their respective draws.
As part of the ongoing excitement around the Powerball, drawing results were scheduled to be broadcast live on the night of Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio, with viewers able to watch the event streamed online at Powerball.com. This particular round also included additional winning opportunities, with 18 tickets nationwide claiming the Match 5 Million status by matching all five white balls but failing to select the Powerball.
The energy surrounding the lottery is palpable, with the Powerball jackpot poised to reset to a starting value of $20 million for the next drawing. In comparison, the Mega Millions lottery is projected to offer a top prize of approximately $358 million in its next draw scheduled for Tuesday.
While many individuals are enjoying the thrill of lottery play, it is essential to approach gambling responsibly. The Louisiana Problem Gamblers Helpline is available for those needing support, offering free, confidential assistance 24/7 at 1-877-770-7867.
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Author: STAFF HERE NEWORLEANS WRITER
NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER The NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewOrleans.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Essence Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Greater New Orleans, Inc., plus leading businesses in energy, healthcare, and education that power the local economy such as Entergy, Ochsner Health, and Tulane University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREShreveport.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
