If you’re a Maryland Powerball player, you likely want to know how you can check if you have the winning numbers for the latest drawing. Checking your Powerball ticket is easy and can be done in a few different ways. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through all the ways you can check your Maryland Powerball numbers.
Check Maryland Powerball Numbers Online
The easiest way to check your Powerball numbers is online using the official Powerball website. After each drawing, the winning numbers are posted at powerball.com. To check your ticket, simply compare the numbers printed on your ticket to the winning numbers shown on the website.
On the Powerball site, click on the “Winning Numbers” link at the top of the homepage. This will take you to a page listing the most recent winning numbers for each Powerball drawing. Find the drawing date that matches the drawing date printed on your ticket. Then, compare the five white ball numbers and the red Powerball number on your ticket to the winning numbers.
If your numbers match the winning numbers in the exact order, you have won a prize – the size of the prize depends on how many numbers you matched. Here is a quick guide to the Powerball prizes:
- Match 5 white balls and the Powerball: Grand prize jackpot
- Match 5 white balls: $1 million prize
- Match 4 white balls and the Powerball: $50,000 prize
- Match 4 white balls: $100 prize
- Match 3 white balls and the Powerball: $100 prize
- Match 3 white balls: $7 prize
- Match 2 white balls and the Powerball: $7 prize
- Match 1 white ball and the Powerball: $4 prize
- Match the Powerball only: $4 prize
Checking online allows you to easily see if you have a winning ticket right from your computer or mobile device. However, it’s important to double check your numbers carefully, as you don’t want to miss a prize.
Use the Maryland Lottery Mobile App
Another convenient way to check is by using the official Maryland Lottery mobile app. The app is free to download for iOS and Android devices. Once you install the app, you can use it to scan your Powerball ticket barcode to instantly see if you have a winner.
To check your numbers:
- Open the Maryland Lottery app on your phone
- Select “Scan Tickets” from the menu
- Use your phone’s camera to scan the barcode on your Powerball ticket
- The app will immediately display whether you have winning numbers and the amount won
The mobile app scan is the fastest way to check your ticket. It also ensures accuracy since it scans the barcode instead of you having to enter numbers manually. This makes it easy to check your tickets anytime, anywhere right from your smartphone.
Watch the Powerball Drawing on TV
You can also check your Maryland Powerball ticket by watching the live TV broadcast of the Powerball drawing. The winning numbers are drawn live every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
In Maryland, you can watch the drawing on your local CBS station. You’ll be able to see the winning five white balls and the Powerball drawn from the lottery machines. Have your Powerball ticket handy while watching so you can immediately check if your numbers match.
Some benefits of watching the live drawing include:
- Seeing the winning numbers drawn live
- Double-checking the numbers yourself as they are called
- Building excitement and anticipation as the balls are drawn
While watching the drawing at home can be fun, just remember you’ll still want to check your numbers carefully after the broadcast in case you missed a number.
Check Numbers at Maryland Lottery Retailers
In addition to checking online or on TV, you can also check if you have winning Powerball numbers at any Maryland Lottery retailer. Most retailers have display monitors in their stores that show the latest winning numbers for all Maryland Lottery drawings, including Powerball.
To check your ticket, simply stop by a participating retailer and locate the monitor displaying the winning numbers. Compare the numbers on your ticket to those shown on the screen. This allows you to easily check your Powerball ticket in person at thousands of locations across the state.
Some tips for checking at retailers:
- Make sure the screen shows the numbers for the correct drawing date as printed on your ticket
- Scan all of your numbers carefully to ensure none were missed
- Ask the retailer to double check your numbers if you’re unsure
- Check your ticket as soon as possible after the drawing to confirm your numbers
Use a Maryland Lottery Ticket Scanner
For quick and easy checking, use one of the Maryland Lottery’s ticket checkers located at many retailer locations. These self-service machines allow you to instantly scan your Powerball ticket to determine if you have a winner.
To use a ticket checker:
- Locate a lottery ticket checker at a participating retailer
- Scan the barcode on your Powerball ticket under the scanner
- The screen will display whether you have winning numbers
- If you have a winner, the machine will alert you with flashing lights and sounds
Ticket scanners provide an instant, automated way to check your numbers. They can save you time from having to manually look up results online or on TV. However, be aware the machines do not tell you the amount of your prize. You’ll need to look up the prize payouts to know how much you’ve won.
Check Numbers with Siri or Google Assistant
If you have an iPhone or Android phone, you can even ask Siri or the Google Assistant to check your Powerball numbers. Just use a voice command to have them look up the most recent winning numbers and read them aloud to you.
To use Siri:
- Activate Siri on your iPhone
- Say “What were the winning Powerball numbers last night?”
- Siri will read out the latest winning numbers
- Check to see if your ticket matches the numbers Siri read
To use Google Assistant:
- Activate your Google Assistant
- Say “Hey Google, what were the winning Powerball numbers?”
- The Assistant will list the latest numbers
- Check if your ticket numbers match what was read
This gives you an easy hands-free option to look up the results. However, it’s a good idea to still verify the numbers elsewhere since voice assistants can sometimes make mistakes.
Sign Up for Winning Number Email Alerts
For convenient updates, sign up to get winning number email alerts from the Maryland Lottery. When you subscribe, the lottery will email you the latest winning numbers after each drawing.
To sign up:
- Go to mdlottery.com
- Click on “Winning Numbers” then “Winning Numbers Alert”
- Enter your email and click “Sign Up”
You’ll then receive email notifications with the winning numbers twice a week. Just open the emails after each drawing and check to see if your ticket matches. Setting up email alerts can save you time from having to search for results after every drawing.
Confirm Your Numbers at Maryland Lottery Office
For complete assurance, you can bring your winning Powerball ticket to an official Maryland Lottery customer resource center. They will scan your ticket and definitively confirm whether you have a winner.
Visit one of these Maryland Lottery offices:
- Montgomery County – 18751 N. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg
- Baltimore County – 217 E. Redwood Street, 20th Floor, Baltimore
- Prince George’s County – 200 Westgate Circle, Suite 414, Annapolis
An advantage of going in person is you’ll also be able to find out the amount of your prize. Lottery staff can walk you through the redemption process so you can claim your full winnings. Confirming at a lottery office provides peace of mind that your numbers are correct.
Check Numbers of Winning Tickets
If you hear someone else won the Powerball jackpot or another prize, you may want to check whether you have the same winning numbers. You can look up the winning numbers for any past Powerball tickets in Maryland.
To check past winning tickets:
- Go to the Maryland Lottery website
- Click on “Winning Numbers” then “Winning Numbers Search”
- Select Powerball and enter the draw date of the winning ticket
- This will display the winning numbers for that draw
- Compare to your ticket to see if you have a match
Checking previous winning numbers allows you to go back and see if you may have missed a prize you didn’t realize you won. Who knows – you might discover you had the jackpot numbers all along!
Split the Prize on a Winning Office Pool Ticket
If you’re part of an office or group pool, double checking your shared Powerball ticket is important. When a ticket wins, you’ll want to make sure winnings are split up fairly amongst all members.
To divide up a group win:
- Have the ticket holder verify the winning numbers
- Make photocopies of the winning ticket to share with members
- Calculate each member’s percentage share based on the agreed split
- Provide members proof of their share in the ticket and winnings
Having documentation ensures all pool participants receive their rightful portion of any prizes. Confirming numbers as a group also builds trust that the win is legitimate.
Avoid Powerball Ticket Scams
Unfortunately, some dishonest people try to take advantage of Powerball excitement by scamming others with fake winning tickets. Be wary of anyone who contacts you saying you’ve won a prize and requests money in return for your “winnings.”
To avoid scams:
- Never pay any fees up front to claim a lottery prize
- Verify any winning tickets in person at a Maryland Lottery office
- Look out for letters, emails or calls saying you won – these are almost always scams
- Know that real winning tickets do not expire and you can take your time to claim
- Confirm numbers yourself instead of trusting claims from strangers
Carefully checking your own Powerball numbers can help you avoid being defrauded. Remember, the Maryland Lottery will never contact you to confirm a prize – that responsibility falls to you as the player.
Check Numbers Carefully Before Discarding Losing Tickets
It’s heartbreaking, but many winning Powerball tickets go unclaimed because people accidentally throw them away. Before tossing out any losing Powerball tickets, take an extra minute to double check that the numbers do not match the winning draw.
Tips to avoid discarding winners:
- Save all tickets until you confirm the numbers – don’t assume it was a loser
- Check near misses too in case you transposed a number
- Use a ticket checker to scan before throwing away
- Sign the back of ticket for ownership as soon as you buy
Checking first is the only way to know for sure whether a ticket is really a non-winner. Be diligent about scanning your tickets to avoid costly mistakes.
Track Numbers in a Powerball Lottery App
Using a lottery app on your smartphone can help you stay organized and on top of checking your Powerball numbers. Apps like Jackpocket let you digitally buy tickets, scan tickets into the app, and get notified of wins.
Benefits of tracking in an app:
- Scan tickets directly in the app for record keeping
- Get automatic alerts when you win
- Easily check past winning numbers
- Helps avoid losing paper tickets
- Can share tickets and winnings with friends or groups
Lottery apps make playing and checking Powerball more convenient. Just remember to keep any physical tickets safe as well in case of electronic issues.
Change Your Play Numbers Periodically
While playing the same Powerball numbers every draw may seem lucky, it can actually make repeatedly checking more tedious. Switching up your played numbers occasionally can help make confirming easier.
Ways to change number selection:
- Use quick pick for random numbers instead of picking your own
- Rotate through different favorite numbers
- Try a different number pattern like all odd or even digits
- Use important dates like birthdays spread across drawings
Fresh numbers keeps things more interesting when you go to check. Just be sure to check carefully each time, no matter what numbers you play!
Conclusion
Checking your Maryland Powerball ticket properly is the key to claiming any prizes you may have won. Take the time to carefully verify your numbers after each drawing using one of the methods described. With multiple ways to check easily both in person and online, there’s no excuse to miss out on a big jackpot win.
Just remember to always double-check numbers yourself and avoid relying on claims from others. Following sound ticket checking practices ensures you’ll have an accurate accounting of any prizes coming your way. So what are you waiting for? Get out there, play Powerball, and be diligent about checking those numbers!
