Watch CBS News

7 Things You Need To Know About The Powerball Lottery In Maryland

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Powerball fever is in full swing around Maryland. The jackpot just went up to $500 million.

Here are some fun facts about the Powerball from the Maryland lottery:

  1. If a winning ticket is sold in Maryland, the state will win too! A winner's choice of the $337,800,000 cash option will net the state $29,557,500 in tax revenue (the federal government will receive $84,450,000). The winner would take home a cool $223,792,500 after taxes.
  2. If a winning ticket is sold in Maryland and the winner chooses the annuity, they will receive approx. $5,906,221 million a year (the first payment will be a little higher) for 30 years. That's after taxes.
  3. This is the third largest Powerball jackpot ever. A $590.5 jackpot was claimed in Florida in May 2013 and a $587.5 million jackpot was split between Arizona and Missouri in November 2012.
  4. If the jackpot is hit in Maryland, this would be the largest Powerball jackpot won in Maryland since the game came to the state in January 2010.  A $128.8 million jackpot was purchased in Elkton (Cecil County) in December 2011 and a $108.8 million jackpot was purchased in Abingdon (Harford County) in September 2011.
  5. If a Maryland retailer sells a jackpot-winning ticket, the business will receive a $100,000 bonus. The business would receive $2,500 for selling a second-tier-winning ticket.
  6. In 2014, thirteen Marylanders won Powerball second-tier prizes (11 $1 million and two $2 million) and 69 won $10,000. Remember that there are many winners with each drawing and prizes start at $4.
  7. Ticket sales end at 9:59 tonight...so buy your tickets! Please sign the back immediately.

BONUS: The odds are not in your favor. Odds of winning the jackpot are approximately 175.2 million to 1.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.