Lucky Numbers: Tennessee Cash 4 Draws Winning Combination for Saturday, December 20
TODAY USA BREAKING NEWS HEADLINES: NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The festive spirit of the holiday season reached a fever pitch this weekend across the Volunteer State as thousands of residents checked their tickets following the latest Tennessee Lottery drawings. While the massive national Powerball jackpot continues to dominate headlines, local players found their own reasons to celebrate on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with the drawing of the nightly Cash 4 winning numbers.
According to official results released by the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation, the winning combination for Saturday’s evening draw was:
2 — 3 — 8 — 9
These four digits represent the latest chance for Tennessee players to turn a small wager into a significant cash prize. Cash 4 remains one of the state’s most popular daily games due to its variety of play styles and the fact that drawings are held three times a day—morning, midday, and evening—providing ample opportunity for “lucky” streaks.
Understanding Saturday’s Draw: Payouts and Play Styles
The Cash 4 game is a staple of the Tennessee Lottery because of its flexibility. Unlike the large-scale jackpot games that require matching five or six numbers from a massive pool, Cash 4 allows players to choose four numbers from 0 to 9. Depending on how the ticket was played, Saturday’s 2-3-8-9 result could mean different things for local winners.
- Straight Play: For players who chose these exact numbers in this specific order, a $1 wager would result in a $5,000 top prize.
- Box Play: Those who selected these four digits but in any other order still find themselves in the winner’s circle. Since all four numbers (2, 3, 8, and 9) are unique, this is known as a 24-way box, which pays out based on the 24 possible permutations of those digits.
- Combo Play: This “best of both worlds” option covers all straight combinations of the four numbers, ensuring a $5,000 win if the numbers are drawn in any order.
Additionally, many players opted for the “Wild Ball” feature, which for Saturday evening was the number 6. This special feature allows players to swap out one of the drawn numbers with the Wild Ball to create a winning combination, significantly increasing the odds of a payout.
A “Billion-Dollar” Weekend in Tennessee
While the Cash 4 draw provided local excitement, it took place against the backdrop of one of the largest lottery events in U.S. history. The Powerball drawing on Saturday night carried an estimated jackpot of $1.60 billion, the fifth-largest in the history of the game.
The winning Powerball numbers for Dec. 20 were 04-05-28-52-69 with a Powerball of 20. While officials are still verifying if a jackpot-winning ticket was sold in Tennessee, the Tennessee Lottery confirmed that several high-tier tickets were sold within the state, including “Match 5” winners that carry a $1 million prize.
The influx of players for the Powerball jackpot often has a “halo effect” on daily games like Cash 4, as residents visiting retailers for the big jackpot often pick up a few daily tickets as well.
Where the Money Goes: Funding Tennessee’s Future
Beyond the thrill of the win, every ticket sold—including the Cash 4 tickets played on Saturday—contributes to a larger mission. The Tennessee Education Lottery was established with the specific purpose of funding education programs across the state.
As of the third quarter of 2025, the Tennessee Lottery celebrated a massive milestone: more than $8 billion raised for education since its inception in 2004. These funds are used to support:
- HOPE Scholarships: Helping Tennessee students attend college with merit-based financial aid.
- Tennessee Promise: A program providing two years of tuition-free community or technical college.
- After-School Programs: Funding for K-12 programs that keep students engaged and safe after the school bell rings.
“Every play is a win for our students,” said a lottery spokesperson. “Even on days when you don’t hold the winning numbers, a portion of your ticket is going toward a scholarship or an after-school program somewhere in our state.”
A Season of Winning: Other Saturday Results
Saturday was a busy night for the Tennessee Lottery’s drawing studio. In addition to Cash 4, several other games saw winning numbers drawn:
| Game | Winning Numbers |
| Cash 3 (Evening) | 6 — 1 — 8 (Wild Ball: 5) |
| Cash 4 Life | 14 — 24 — 26 — 42 — 45 (Cash Ball: 4) |
| Tennessee Cash | 10 — 24 — 30 — 33 — 34 (Cash Ball: 5) |
| Lotto America | 09 — 12 — 34 — 45 — 50 (Star Ball: 1) |
The Cash 4 Life drawing is particularly noteworthy, as the top prize offers winners $1,000 a day for the rest of their lives.
Tips for Saturday’s Winners
If you are holding a ticket with the numbers 2-3-8-9, here are the next steps you should take:
- Sign the Back: Before doing anything else, sign the back of your ticket. This establishes legal ownership.
- Keep it Safe: A lottery ticket is a “bearer instrument,” meaning whoever holds it can claim it. Keep it in a secure location.
- Check Your Retailer: Prizes up to $600 can be claimed at most authorized lottery retailers. For larger prizes, you will need to visit one of the Tennessee Lottery’s district offices in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, or Chattanooga.
- Check the Expiration: Tennessee Lottery tickets are valid for 180 days from the date of the drawing. Don’t let your 2025 luck expire in 2026!
Looking Ahead to the New Year
As the calendar turns toward 2026, the Tennessee Lottery is preparing for several New Year’s promotions. The “VIP Rewards” program continues to offer “second-chance” drawings for non-winning tickets, allowing players to enter their tickets via the mobile app for a chance at luxury vacations, electronics, and cash prizes.
For now, the focus remains on the lucky winners of Saturday’s draw. Whether it was a $50 win or a $5,000 jackpot, the numbers 2, 3, 8, and 9 have made the holiday season a little bit brighter for many across the state.
