Are you the winner of New York's $432 MILLION Mega Millions jackpot? Past and future winners: you're gonna wanna read these tips.
The moment you’ve always dreamed about has come true—you’ve won the lottery and you’ve won BIG. Once you’ve seen those winning numbers flash before your eyes, the biggest question is “Now what?”
Step 1: Sign your ticket
With Jackpocket, if your lottery prize is above the threshold amount for your state, we securely transfer your physical ticket to you so that you can claim your prize from the state lottery. Sign the back of your lottery ticket as soon as you have it in your hands. If you drop it, lose it, or accidentally let it fall out of your wallet when you’re reaching for a credit card, it becomes easy for someone else to claim.
Step 2: Think about your privacy
You’re excited about your big winnings and likely want to shout it from the rooftops. Don’t do this. Once the news spreads that you’ve won, not only will friends and family be badgering you, charities, financial advisors, and more will be reaching out to you. Check out our state-by-state guide, to see if your state allows you to stay anonymous.
New Jersey has a new big winner! 🎉
— Jackpocket (@Jackpocket) September 22, 2021
The winner usually sticks to playing Powerball and Mega Millions. However, he decided to play Jersey Cash 5 for the first time, and spoiler alert: it paid off!
Congrats on being the 4th Jackpocket player to hit the Jersey Cash 5 jackpot! 👏 pic.twitter.com/DnupJuIpqp
Step 3: Talk to the professionals
Before you claim your prize, you will want to talk to financial advisors, lawyers, and accountants to understand how to best deal with your winnings. They can help you crunch the numbers and decide if you would like to take the prize money as a one-time cash payment or in annual payments over time (the important lump sum vs annuity question!).
Step 4: Figure out your plan
Now that you’ve talked to all the professionals and understand the different avenues for your financial future, you can make your plan. Your plan will go beyond deciding to accept your prize in a lump sum or annuity, and will need to include factors like estate planning, your will, current debt payments, and investments. Don’t forget to set aside a fixed amount for splurges—after all, you want to enjoy all your money too!
Imagine being so rich you can use the "High to Low" filter while online shopping. 🛍️💸
— Jackpocket (@Jackpocket) September 20, 2021
Step 5: Claim your prize
For a step-by-step guide on how to claim a lottery prize from home, click here. Otherwise, you'll make an appointment to visit your local state lottery claim center.
Haven’t won big bucks just yet? Play your favorite lottery games on Jackpocket to be the next big winner and check out our Autoplay feature to ensure you never miss a lottery drawing with your lucky numbers.
