Wisconsin Lottery: So let's say you win the Powerball; here's what you should do next

MILWAUKEE -- Wednesday night, January 13th may be the pinnacle of the Powerball hysteria. (Unless, of course, no one wins.) The next drawing is at 9:59 p.m. on Wednesday, and there will probably be at least one winner for the record-shattering $1.5 billion jackpot that's up for grabs.

So let's say it's 10:00 p.m. and you learn you're holding a winning Powerball ticket.

Lottery officials have some quick tips about what to do next.

Sign your ticket and keep it in a safe place.  If you didn’t sign your lottery ticket right after purchasing it, you should do so now.  That makes the ticket yours.  Keep the winning ticket in safe place until you are ready to claim it, such as a safety deposit box.

180 days.  You have 180 days to claim you prize.  After that time, your ticket expires and you cannot redeem it for any winnings.

Where to claim your prize:

Wisconsin Lottery Ticket Redemption Offices:

Open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Madison: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, 2135 Rimrock Road, Madison, WI 53713 )608) 266-7777

Milwaukee: Wisconsin Department of Revenue, 819 N. 6th Street - 4th Floor Service Counter, Milwaukee, WI 53203 (414) 227-3882

Multiple winners on same ticket.  State law requires the Wisconsin Lottery to issue a prize to one player.  If you have purchased a ticket with others, you can get a court order that will tell the Lottery how to divide the winnings.  If you win, call the Lottery for more information about how to start this process.

Anonymity.  State law does not allow winners to remain anonymous in Wisconsin.  We are required by law to provide your name and city of residence, if requested.  We proactively publish winners on our website and Facebook pages as well.

Get expert advice.  Winning a large jackpot can be life-changing.  Be sure to get advice from professionals – such as an attorney and financial advisor – to help you with how to manage your winnings.

More than half of the money made through the sale of Powerball tickets goes to the winner. Six percent goes to the location where you purchased the ticket, and the cost of running the lottery. 31 percent goes toward property tax relief.