Video grabs about Powerball’s $80 million draw available here
Audio grabs about Powerball’s $80 million draw available here
With less than 36 hours until the mammoth $80 million Powerball draw, many Aussies are wondering what it feels like to hear the words, ‘You’ve won a major lottery prize!’.
This Thursday’s $80 million Powerball prize is the highest the game has climbed in more than five months, and marks the biggest jackpot offered by any Australian lottery game so far in 2026.
Ahead of the draw, The Lott is pulling back the curtains on the exclusive Winners Lounge, revealing the moment winners claim their life-changing prizes and reality hits.
At the heart of the lounge is the visitor book, a long-standing tradition that invites major lottery winners to record their first, unfiltered thoughts about what their future might hold.
The handwritten notes reveal personal moments of disbelief, gratitude, and joy, alongside plans to support family, travel, and pursue long-held dreams. Some of these handwritten notes come from winners who have won as big as $100 million.
Big moments of gratitude
Above all else, the winners visitor book is a place for big feelings and bigger moments of gratitude.
- “Something incredible has happened. This is a life-changing amount of money. It has come into my life quietly, unexpectedly, and with so much gratitude. I don’t have the words to explain how grateful I am,” one winner wrote.
- “After 40 years of working 50-60 hour weeks, to be blessed like this is incredible. A new way of living starts today.”
- “Just being able to help all my family makes me cry. You never think it will happen to you. $3.88 got me $628,568.41.”
- “We’ll be able to live life to the fullest and not just exist.”
Family comes first
Amid the excitement, supporting family remains a priority for Australian lottery winners.
- “Family! Make the most of this, with those special,” one winner shared.
- “It means I will be able to help my children and grandchildren in ways I never dreamed possible.”
- “This is a family win that will be used to pay off our families’ home mortgages.”
Holidays dominate
Holidays remain a common thread – often written in all caps, circled, underlined, followed by several exclamation marks.
- "Holiday, holiday, holiday!!!” one winner shared.
- “Can’t wait to travel the world.”
- “Number-one priority is to fly business class to visit family overseas.”
Unique dreams
Meanwhile, some winners shared their wonderfully unique plans for their prizes.
- “I’ll be able to buy a new cricket bat without my wife whining.”
- “I plan to adopt a million billion shiba-inus!”
- “Heaps of new guitars! (Sorry in advance to my wife).”
- “I aspire to buy a house and have a good, simple farm life.”
The Lott spokesperson Eliza Wregg said that Aussies would be dreaming big ahead of Thursday night’s $80 million Powerball’s draw.
“Only time will tell if we’ll be welcoming one or more major prize winners into the exclusive Winners Lounge following Thursday night’s Powerball draw,” she said.
“We anticipate a rush across the country as Aussies vie for the chance to score the biggest jackpot offered by any Australian lottery game so far this year.
“Whether it’s adopting a “million billion shiba‑inus” or setting up your family for generations to come, winning a slice of Thursday night’s prize could turn your biggest dreams into reality.
“The only way to be in with a chance to win big this Thursday night is to grab an entry in-store, online or via The Lott app.
“As always, our top tip for players is to register your entry in-store or online with The Lott Members Club. By registering an entry, we’ll be able to reach out to you immediately after the draw and deliver the life-changing news if you were to win big.”