10 Things Illinois Mega Millions and Powerball Players Should Know

The dream of winning a billion-dollar Illinois Lottery jackpot can quickly turn into a nightmare if you're not careful. Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots are huge right now. Discover the most important things Illinois players and winners need to know.

Odds of Winning Illinois Lottery Jackpots

Have you noticed how many big Illinois Lottery instant game winners there have been lately? It seems like every week someone is hitting 5-to-6-digit jackpots on scratch-off tickets. Illinois Lottery Instant Win ticket odds are the best they've ever been.

Odds of Winning Mega Millions Jackpot

Your chances of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are roughly 1 in 302.6 million.

Odds of Winning Powerball Jackpots

With Powerball, your odds improve a little. You have a 1 in 292.2 million chance of living the life you've always dreamed.

You can see how big the current jackpots are HERE.

How Much of My Lottery Winnings Goes to Taxes

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The answer to this question is like a kick in the gut because even if you live in a state that doesn't tax your lottery winnings, the Feds will tax you pretty heavily.

you’ll see roughly 37% of your prize money withheld, should you win.

Can Powerball and Mega Millions Winners Be Anonymous

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The answer to that is, sort of. If your prize is $250,000 or greater, you can request to keep your name and where you live confidential at the time of claiming the prize.

Where are Mega Millions Tickets Sold

Mega Millions tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

When are Mega Millions Drawings

Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:00 p.m. Central

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Where are Powerball Tickets Sold

Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

When are Powerball Drawings

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday at 9:59 p.m. Central.

Most Important Thing to Remember if You Win a Big Lottery Jackpot

You just won millions, even if it's a few hundred thousand dollars, you want to know what to do next.

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• The experts recommend as soon as possible, build yourself a team that includes an attorney, a tax advisor, and a financial advisor.
• Protect your ticket in a safe, lockbox, or a safety deposit box at a bank.
• Keep your win a secret for as long as possible.

Win the lottery, then buy the most expensive house for sale in Wisconsin.