If you have purchased a Powerball ticket in Michigan, you’ll naturally be eager to check whether you have won a prize. With jackpots frequently climbing into the hundreds of millions of dollars, Powerball offers the chance at a life-changing amount of money. So how can you find out if your Michigan Powerball ticket is a winner?
Check your Michigan Powerball ticket yourself
The easiest way to check your Powerball ticket is to do it yourself. Powerball tickets print out the winning numbers for each drawing at the time you purchase your ticket. Simply compare the numbers on your ticket to the winning numbers to see if you have a winner.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. EST. The winning numbers are typically posted online shortly after the drawing at the Powerball website. Many local TV and radio stations also announce the numbers during their newscasts.
To check if you’ve won a prize, compare the five white ball numbers on your ticket to the five winning white ball numbers from the drawing. If you match all five, you win the jackpot prize. Matching just the red Powerball number wins you $4, but matching that and at least one white ball number wins a bigger prize.
The Powerball website has a page where you can enter your numbers to automatically check for winners. Many state lottery websites also have ticket checkers. Or you can visit an authorized lottery retailer in Michigan and have the clerk scan your ticket to confirm whether you have a winner.
Prizes for matching some numbers
You don’t have to match all six numbers to win a Powerball prize. The game has nine prize levels based on how many numbers you match:
| Matches | Prize |
|---|---|
| 5 white balls + Powerball | Jackpot |
| 5 white balls | $1 million |
| 4 white balls + Powerball | $50,000 |
| 4 white balls | $100 |
| 3 white balls + Powerball | $100 |
| 3 white balls | $7 |
| 2 white balls + Powerball | $7 |
| 1 white ball + Powerball | $4 |
| Powerball only | $4 |
As you can see, matching even just one number plus the Powerball can win a prize. The Power Play option available in some states can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times.
What if I think I have a winning ticket?
If your numbers match up with the winning Powerball numbers and you realize you may have won a major prize, there are some important steps to take:
- Sign the back of the ticket immediately to establish ownership.
- Store the ticket somewhere secure.
- Speak to a reputable financial advisor and attorney about making a claim.
- Call the Michigan lottery at 517-335-5600 to begin the claims process.
There is no rush to come forward. You have one year from the date of the drawing to claim your Powerball prize in Michigan. Just be sure to keep your ticket safe.
Unclaimed prizes
What happens when a winning Powerball ticket goes unclaimed? In Michigan, the money stays in the state’s School Aid Fund if no one claims the prize within one year.
Since 2003, more than $131 million in unclaimed Michigan lottery prizes have gone to support K-12 schools across the state. So check your old tickets – you could have a prize that helps students if you don’t claim it.
Some big Michigan Powerball winners
While no one has hit the huge nine-figure Powerball jackpots from Michigan yet, there have been some sizable winners over the years:
- In June 2022, a $1 million-winning Powerball ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven in Ypsilanti.
- A man from Wayland won a $150,000 prize from the Powerball drawing on Christmas Day 2021.
- In April 2020, a $1 million Powerball prize was won by a Macomb County woman.
- A couple from Suttons Bay claimed a $80 million Powerball jackpot in August 2017.
Could you be the next Michigan Powerball millionaire or even billionaire? Keep playing those Powerball tickets and carefully check them after each drawing!
Some little-known facts about Powerball
While the basics of playing Powerball are simple, there are some quirky rules and interesting facts about the game that you may not know:
- If the jackpot is not won, the prize money rolls over to increase the size of the next jackpot.
- Powerball tickets expire one year from the date of the drawing that they are purchased for.
- If multiple players match all six numbers, the jackpot prize is split evenly.
- Players can multiply non-jackpot prizes up to 10 times with the Power Play option for an extra $1 per ticket.
- The red Powerballs are made by an American toy company and weigh just under 6 ounces.
So don’t throw out your old Powerball tickets until you check them, and realize that even if you don’t hit the jackpot, smaller prizes can quickly add up, especially with the Power Play.
Pro tip: Buy tickets early to avoid long lines
When the Powerball jackpot climbs into the stratosphere, long lines often form at lottery retailers as people rush to buy their tickets. To avoid the hassle, purchase your Powerball tickets early in the week before a big jackpot drawing.
Ticket sales cut off 59 minutes before the scheduled drawing, so there’s no advantage to waiting until the last minute anyway. Buy your ticket when it’s convenient so you can relax and imagine how you’ll spend your millions later.
Can I play Powerball in other states?
Powerball is played in 45 states across the U.S. as well as Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. So if you’re traveling outside of Michigan, you may still be able to buy a ticket and play Powerball.
Just be aware that the claim process differs from state to state if you win a prize. Make sure to sign your winning ticket and consult the lottery commission in the jurisdiction where you purchased it for instructions on how to proceed with verification and collecting your prize.
Buying tickets as part of a pool
To increase your chances of winning, many people buy Powerball tickets as part of an office or friend lottery pool. This spreads the cost around while still getting a batch of tickets.
If playing the lottery in a pool, make sure to draw up a contract ahead of time that specifies how any prizes will be divided. Have the rules for playing set in writing so there are no disputes, and have a lawyer review the agreement.
And always remember – make sure the person buying the tickets signs them before distribution to the group. Unsigned winning tickets are legally considered the property of the purchaser, not the pool participants.
Give Powerball tickets as gifts responsibly
Powerball tickets can make fun gifts for birthdays, stocking stuffers at Christmas or for other special occasions. Just keep in mind that lottery tickets are inappropriate for those under 18 years of age.
When giving Powerball tickets to adults, do it responsibly and for entertainment, not with the expectation of funding any future needs. Make it a lighthearted gesture and enjoy any winnings together if your numbers hit.
Conclusion
Checking your Powerball tickets after each drawing takes just a few minutes but gives you the chance to win prizes worth millions. Carefully compare the numbers on your ticket to the winning numbers from the Powerball drawing to see if you have any matches.
Sign and store any winning tickets securely, then follow the verification process through the Michigan Lottery Commission. Even if you only match a few numbers, small Powerball prizes can quickly add up to big winnings.
Responsible and informed play is the key to enjoying Powerball. Always set a budget for lottery purchases and think of tickets as entertainment, not a strategic investment. And be sure to check those tickets – you never know when you might discover you’re Michigan’s newest Powerball millionaire!
