Do lottery tickets expire? Yes, lottery tickets do expire – that surprises a lot of people.

So it’s important to always check your ticket promptly.

But then how long do you have to collect lottery winnings?

Let’s find out.

On average it takes 2-3 weeks to get your lottery jackpot winnings. But it does depend on how much you win and where you live.

So here’s a bit more detail if you need it.

There’s more than one way to buy a lottery ticket these days.

But is it safe to play online or are you better off playing in-store?

Let’s find out.

The answer to this depends on what game you are playing most of all. But it also depends on how you are playing it, and if you’re doing anything useful to improve your chances of winning.

But let’s get into it.

In the USA there are currently 18 states that allow lottery winners to claim the jackpot anonymously.

In a further 11 states it’s possible to claim using a trust or company on your behalf.

All other states you cannot remain anonymous.

But you do have some options to limit the amount of information released.

The Powerball lump sum is calculated in two stages.

Firstly they determine the basic lump sum amount (which I’ll explain in a moment). Then taxes are applied after that.

Your lottery ticket says ‘results not in’ because it’s too early to check that ticket.

I’ll explain why it happens in a moment.

It can be a confusing because the phrasing is a bit odd. It’s sort of a shortened version of “the results haven’t come in yet”. Which means the results haven’t ‘arrived’.

Lost was a super popular TV show broadcast back in 2004-2010 (covering 6 seasons). Given it still had over 11 million viewers (in the US alone) by the end of the show, you’d think those numbers might have won the lottery by now?

And they sort of have – but only a bit!

Did my lottery number ever win? Have the numbers I’ve been playing ever come up before?

It’s a good question, with some interesting answers.

Here’s my take.

Syndicates win the lottery all the freakin time.

But there are good reasons why – starting with just what we really mean by a ‘syndicate’.

Let’s get into it.