The holidays were a great time for Fantasy 5 players in California, with huge amounts being won. According to the California State Lottery, the total amount won over the last few weeks comes in at $862,892.

These prizes, which close in at almost $1 million, were split across several draws. The biggest of these draws included a $330,000 jackpot, which came to $111,524 for each player. These draws were held between Saturday, December 27, 2025, and Sunday, January 4, 2026.  As these mega draws defined the holidays, 2026 has come around to yet more shifts in the gambling space that will impact California and beyond.

How Gambling Has Changed

Because gambling is virtually as old as humans, it has only continued to evolve alongside our practices and technology. In the last 3 decades, the advent of the internet has meant that we can access any type of gambling from home and while on the go. Not only do consumers have more choice and flexibility, but they also have more control over the betting process.

Typically, when betting, consumers have to go through complex Know-Your-Customer (KYC) processes. These involve submitting sensitive information and documents, and not everyone feels comfortable with this. But if blockchain technology is implemented in the betting process, consumers can access services without first setting up accounts, and so, no sensitive information needs to be added.

The benefits of no KYC have become apparent to many betting consumers, and so, the use of such technologies has continued. It has also brought into question privacy protocols in more traditional forms of gambling. With these Fantasy 5 draws, we know that about 14 people won and that they were located in Lancaster, Oakland, Stanton, Newhall, Hesperia, Chula Vista, Bakersfield, San Diego, Riverside, Monterey Park and Los Angeles.

But as more gambling processes go online, there might be a bigger push for more privacy. That being said, lotteries find themselves in a unique position as the publicity around winners (especially of jackpots) is such a big part of the publicity process. We’ve all seen the viral stories of people picking up large checks of their lottery winnings, as well as coverage on how they went on to spend the money.

How Lotteries Might Evolve

These days, more lotteries are moving online, with customers able to buy tickets on websites and apps. There are several advantages to this, as they can be notified immediately if they win, and there is less contention over the ownership of the tickets in question.

The publicizing of winners, however, will likely continue as many states legally require a physical presence to do so. Other forms of gambling will also continue to thrive as they go online, with record revenue numbers reported all over the US and beyond.

Those who have played the Fantasy 5 lottery can check the status of their tickets using the official website and app or using the Check-A-Ticket machine at a California Lottery retail location.