State Specific Rules
You can play Powerball in Massachusetts by picking up a playslip from any licensed retailer. Choose five main numbers between 1 and 69, and one Powerball between 1 and 26.
You can also buy season tickets for Powerball. These can be purchased by visiting any licensed retailer, telephoning 1 (800) 222-8587 and making a payment over the phone, or by sending a check in the mail to the Season Tickets Department at the Massachusetts Lottery.
Discounted season tickets are available from mid-November to January, and in the summer. There are three different season tickets available, and they all provide a cheaper alternative to spending $2 on a single line:
- 3 month Season Ticket - $76 (39 drawings)
- 6 month Season Ticket - $150 (78 drawings)
- 1 year Season Ticket - $300 (156 drawings)
When you buy a season ticket, you can either register it online with the Massachusetts State Lottery, or fill out the registration form provided and mail it to the following address:
MSLC-Season Tickets Dept
60 Columbian Street
Braintree, MA 02184
How to Claim Prizes
Prizes worth $600 or less can be collected from any licensed retailer in Massachusetts, while prizes between $601 and $49,999 can be claimed from one of the six lottery regional offices. To collect prizes worth over $600, you must fill out a claim form, present photo ID with a proof of signature, and show your Social Security number.
Prizes worth $50,000 and over, including the jackpot, can be collected from the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters. If you’re a jackpot winner, you have 60 days from the date of the drawing to choose between taking your money as a lump sum or annuity payments. If you don’t confirm your jackpot payment option within this timeframe, you will automatically receive annuity payments.
If you win a non-jackpot prize as a season ticket holder, you will be mailed your winnings in the form of a check. If you’re a season ticket jackpot winner, you will be asked to go to the Massachusetts State Lottery Headquarters to claim your prize.
All regional officers are open Monday – Friday between 8:45am EST and 4:30pm ET (excluding holidays), and their location, address and telephone number are shown below:
| Location | Address | Telephone Number: |
|---|---|---|
| Dorchester (Headquarters) | 150 Mount Vernon Street Dorchester, MA 02125-3573 | (781) 849-5555 |
| Braintree | 1515 Washington Street Braintree, MA 02184 | (781) 849-5601 |
| Lawrence | Stadium Plaza 160 Winthrop Avenue Lawrence, MA 01843 | (978) 975-2674 |
| New Bedford | 200 Theodore H. Rice Boulevard New Bedford Industrial Park New Bedford, MA 02745 | (508) 985-9892 |
| West Springfield | 383 Memorial Avenue Century Plaza West Springfield, MA 01089 | (413) 781-3880 |
| Worcester | 151 W. Boylston Drive Worcester, MA 01606 | (508) 755-7855 |
Claim Period
You have one year from the date of a drawing to come forward and claim your prize. The Massachusetts State Lottery will withhold five percent of state tax on any winnings. You should contact a tax professional for further information if needed.
Going Public
If you win a big prize in Massachusetts, you can preserve your anonymity by claiming through a trust. If you don't claim through a trust, the Massachusetts Lottery will reveal your name, city or town, claim date and prize amount as it is regarded as public information.
Lost and Damaged Tickets
If you lose a winning ticket, you need to tell the Massachusetts State Lottery claims department in writing, outlining details such as the date and time you bought your ticket, where it was purchased and what numbers you picked. This information will then be researched by the claims department and if they are satisfied that you are the rightful owner, they will proceed with the claim. If you lose your season ticket, you need to call 1-800-222-8587 to request a replacement.
Where Does the Money Go?
A minimum 45 percent of the revenue generated from ticket sales is used to pay out prizes, although on average a much greater proportion goes towards the prize fund. A maximum of 15 percent of ticket revenue is used to cover costs and expenses, and the remaining money is transferred to the state’s General Fund for public programs and initiatives across the state. The table below shows how revenues are split on average:
| Area of Spending | Percentage of Revenue |
|---|---|
| Prizes | 73% |
| General Fund | 19% |
| Commissions and Bonuses | 6% |
| Administrative Expenses | 2% |
Funds from the lottery are not allocated to any specific programs or areas, and each of the 351 towns and cities in the state that are eligible to receive a share of the money can decide how to spend it. Examples of how funds have previously been spent include improvements to roads, schools and education services, and snow removal. Nearly $10 billion has been distributed since 2009.
Massachusetts Powerball Winners
One of the largest ever wins on a single lottery ticket in USA history came in Massachusetts, when 53-year-old Mavis Wanczyk won a $758 million jackpot on August 23, 2017. She bought her winning ticket from Pride Station & Store petrol station in Chicopee, opting to take a cash lump sum worth $480 million.
As well as Wanczyk’s record-breaking win, there have been other ticket holders in the state who have matched all five main numbers plus the Powerball to win the maximum payout. Sterling-based Maureen and Stephen Hinckley won a $61 million share of a $122 million jackpot in December 2013. They bought their winning ticket from Appletown Market, opting to take the cash option of $34 million.
James Freeman scooped $25 million in June 2011 from a Quick Pick ticket bought at Joe’s Market, Fall River. Arlington’s Rosa DeLeon and Reginald LeBlanc – both Costco co-workers – followed suit by bagging $50 million in December 2012. Their winning Quick Pick ticket was bought from Lexington Shell.
