Someone has come forward with the $456.7 million jackpot-winning Powerball ticket sold at a Speedway gas station and convenience store in Lancaster County last month. Technically, it is not a person whose name is on the ticket. instead, it is the Emerald Legacy Trust.
According to Pennsylvania Lottery officials, the claimant set up a trust and opted to receive a cash prize of $273,959,698 last week. After 24 percent federal tax and 3.07 percent state tax was withheld, the Emerald Legacy Trust received a prize of $199,798,807.75 from the Pennsylvania Lottery.
Lottery jackpot winners often set up a trust to claim big winnings. In fact, a trust can help the winner or winners remain anonymous and help them manage the newfound wealth.
PA’s 18th Powerball jackpot win
This marked the 18th time a person or group of people in Pennsylvania has won the multi-state Powerball jackpot. However, this is the largest prize ever awarded by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Additionally, it is Powerball’s eighth-largest jackpot to date.
The winning ticket matched all five white balls, 22-57-59-60-66, and the red Powerball 07, for the Saturday, March 17, 2018 Powerball draw held on St. Patrick’s Day.
The Pennsylvania Lottery announced a few days after the draw that the ticket was sold at the Speedway at 675 Lancaster Road in Manheim.
Lottery officials said the ticket holder had one year from the date of the draw to claim the prize. The winner could have accepted a $456.7 million annuity in 30 payments over the next 29 years, or a $273.9 million lump sum in cash, less state and federal taxes.
The Speedway station was able to collect a $100,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket.
At the time, Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko congratulated Speedway for selling winning ticket. Plus, he congratulated the winner for finding some tremendous St. Patrick’s Day luck.
PA’s 20th multi-state jackpot win
In addition to 18 Powerball jackpot wins, Pennsylvanians have won the Mega Millions multi-state lottery jackpot twice. In fact, that makes this particular winner the Pennsylvania Lottery’s 20th multi-state jackpot winner to date.
The Pennsylvania Lottery started selling tickets for Powerball in 2002 and Mega Millions in 2010.
A total of 44 states, Washington, D.C., US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico sell Powerball and Mega Millions tickets.
The largest multi-state lottery jackpot ever was a $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot. Three winners from California, Florida, and Tennessee split the jackpot in January 2016.
PA online lottery
The Pennsylvania Lottery will actually go online in May. In fact, a comprehensive gambling expansion package passed by state lawmakers in October 2017 included approval for online lottery sales.
However, online lottery sales in PA will not include Powerball and Mega Millions tickets at launch. Powerball and Mega Millions tickets might be added at a later date.
All Pennsylvania Lottery proceeds go to programs benefiting older residents and have since ticket sales began in 1972.
