If you're looking to win big, then playing the Illinois Lottery
can be an exciting way to play the odds. Beginning in 1974, the Illinois
Lottery has paid out millions to winners throughout the years. With multiple
games to choose from and multiple ways to win, the Illinois Lottery has thrills
for all players. If you're interested in reading some commonly asked questions
about the Illinois Lottery, then keep reading.
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To play the lottery in Illinois, you must be at least 18 years of
age. Not only do you need to be 18 years or older, but you must also be a
resident of Illinois who is physically located in the state at the time of your
purchase. To purchase a lottery ticket online, you must comply with the age
requirement while also registering an account with the Illinois Lottery.
The odds of winning the Illinois Lottery can vary based on the type of
game you play. If you play with the Extra Shot number, there are up to 10 ways
for you to win on an Illinois Lotto ticket. The odds of winning a prize in the
Illinois Lottery with Extra Shot are 1 in 5.6, compared to 1 in 7 without Extra
Shot. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 20,358,520 with a 6-way match.
The minimum prize of $1 has odds of 1 in 83 if you match just two of the
numbers
You can purchase a ticket for the Illinois Lottery online, either
on the website or within the app. You can also find tickets available for
purchase at more than 7,200 retail locations throughout the state. After
finding a ticket vendor, you can decide which game to play and pick your
numbers. If you pick the lucky numbers, then you'll have a chance at earning
prizes ranging from a couple bucks to millions of dollars. You also have the
option of using Quick Pick, which automatically generates your numbers for you.
Days and times for drawings can vary based on the game. Here is a
list of the various games and their drawing times:
If you win the grand prize of the Lotto, Mega Millions, or
Powerball, then you have two options to receive your payment. The first option
is a lump sum payment that is equal to the cash value of the jackpot prize. The
second option is a series of 30 annual payments. After winning, you have 60
days to select which payment method you prefer using the cash election form
provided by the prize payment center.
Group winners must all choose the same payment option, and if the
payment center doesn't receive a decision within 60 days, then it will default
to the annual payments. When choosing the lump sum payment, the actual amount
paid will be considerably less than the announced jackpot. The annual payments
will be closer to the jackpot amount, but will still have state and federal
taxes withheld from each payment.
If you have a winning ticket, there are four different ways to
claim your prize in Illinois. Before you begin the process, make sure that you
sign the back of your ticket and that the ticket itself isn't expired. It's
also requested that you only choose one method to claim your prize, as
submitting multiple claims can delay the process. Here are the four ways you
can claim your winnings:
If you win the Illinois Lottery, then you will need to pay taxes
on all of your winnings. Similar to how other gambling winnings work, you must
pay taxes on your winnings as part of your income. The withholding rate from
the state is 4.95%, with a federal rate of 24%. If you choose to be paid out in
annual installments rather than the lump sum option, then each installment will
have the correct tax amount automatically withheld each time.
Because the Illinois Lottery is a state agency, certain public
disclosure laws can provide people access to government records about your
winnings. These records include your name, city of residence, the date you won,
the amount you won, and the name and location of the retailer who sold you the
winning ticket. Upon request or legal mandate, the Illinois Lottery may also
release additional information about your winnings.
If you've won an amount that is greater than or equal to $250,000,
then you can submit a written request to keep your name and city of residence
confidential. You must submit this request at the same time that you claim your
prize. However, the Illinois Lottery may still be legally obligated to release
your confidential information depending on the circumstances.
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