BOSTON — Feeling lucky? With the Powerball craze in full force, there are a couple of things you need to know in case you find yourself in possession of a winning ticket.
DID YOU WIN?
First, you need to ask yourself the very important question: Did I win? Even if you didn't match all five numbers and the Powerball, you could still be walking away with some cash.
Match: All 5 numbers and the Powerball
Prize: $1.5 billion
Odds: 1 in 292,201,338.00
Match: All 5 numbers without the Powerball
Prize: $1,000,000
Odds: 1 in 11,688,053.52
Match: Four numbers and the Powerball
Prize: $50,000
Odds: 1 in 913,129.18
Match: Four numbers
Prize: $100
Odds: 1 in 36,525.17
Match: Three numbers and the Powerball
Prize: $100
Odds: 1 in 14,494.11
Match: Three numbers
Prize: $7
Odds: 1 in 579.76
Match: Two numbers and the Powerball
Prize: $7
Odds: 1 in 701.33
Match: One number and the Powerball
Prize: $4
Odds: 1 in 91.98
Match: One number
Prize: $4
Odds: 1 in 38.32
WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR WINNING TICKET
If you just won the jackpot or another huge prize -- SIGN THE BACK!
, a signed ticket with two forms of matching identification is required to get the payout.
HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE
You can claim a prize of under $600 at any retailer where you bought the ticket, but many retailers will not carry the cash needed to pay higher prizes. You can only claim the prize in the SAME STATE you bought the ticket.
You can claim any prize at the state lottery headquarters. You can also claim winning tickets by mail.
[ Click here to find the address of the state lottery headquarters and the claim form. ]
HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET YOUR MONEY
It can usually take up to two weeks to collect the cash from stores around the country. If you wait two weeks before claiming the prize, there's a good chance you can get the jackpot money the next day, but some lotteries work through the state system, which can delay the payment.
CAN YOU REMAIN ANONYMOUS?
Only six states -- Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina – allow jackpot winners to remain anonymous. In some states, you can create something called a limited liability company. That means that when the winner is presented, the company would be identified, not the individuals.
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