The Powerball jackpot has climbed to an estimated $562 million for Wednesday night’s drawing, with a cash option of about $230.4 million, after no ticket matched all six numbers on Monday. For a Marylander holding the winning ticket, the real question is how much would be left after federal and state withholding — and where in Baltimore that ticket would have to be cashed in.
Monday’s winning numbers were 22, 28, 38, 51 and 69, with a Powerball of 9 and a 3x Power Play, according to Powerball.com. The jackpot was last won Aug. 12 by a $1.04 billion ticket sold in Illinois, and it reset to $20 million for the Aug. 15 drawing.
How much is the Powerball jackpot for Wednesday, Oct. 14?
The advertised $562 million is the annuity value: 30 graduated payments spread over 29 years. Nearly every big winner instead takes the lump sum, estimated at $230.4 million before taxes. Drawings are held Monday, Wednesday and Saturday nights. The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.
In Maryland, a Powerball play costs $2. Adding Power Play, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes, costs $1 more, and the Double Play add-on, which offers a second drawing with separate prizes, also costs $1 more, according to the Maryland Lottery.
How much would a Maryland winner take home after taxes?
Lottery prizes over $5,000 are subject to 24% federal withholding. Maryland also withholds state tax on lottery and gambling winnings over $5,000: 9.5% for Maryland residents and 8.75% for nonresidents, rates the Comptroller of Maryland set after the state raised its top income tax rate effective July 1, 2025.
| Cash option: $230.4 million | Maryland resident | Nonresident (bought in Maryland) |
|---|---|---|
| Federal withholding (24%) | $55.3 million | $55.3 million |
| Maryland withholding | $21.9 million (9.5%) | $20.2 million (8.75%) |
| Estimated check after withholding | About $153.2 million | About $154.9 million |
Withholding is not the final bill. A jackpot of this size lands squarely in the top 37% federal bracket, so a winner would owe considerably more when filing a return. Nonresidents may also owe tax to their home state. A tax professional, not a lottery calculator, should run the final numbers.
Can Maryland lottery winners stay anonymous?
Yes. Maryland is among the states that let lottery winners keep their names private, NBC Washington has reported, and the Maryland Lottery routinely announces big wins using only nicknames chosen by the winners. The state’s biggest winners have used that option: the group that claimed Maryland’s record $731.1 million Powerball jackpot in 2021 called itself the “Power Pack” and never released its members’ names.
Where would the winner claim the prize?
Large prizes are claimed at Maryland Lottery headquarters in the Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330, in Baltimore. An appointment is required, and walk-ins are not accepted, according to Lottery announcements. Players have 182 days after the drawing date to claim a prize. Before doing anything else, a winner should sign the back of the ticket, store it somewhere safe and consider talking with a lawyer and financial adviser.
“The only official winning numbers are the numbers actually drawn.”
Maryland Lottery, Powerball game page
Has Maryland produced a Powerball jackpot before?
Maryland’s largest-ever lottery prize came from the Jan. 20, 2021, Powerball drawing, when a ticket sold at Coney Market in Lonaconing, Allegany County, won $731.1 million. The winners took the $546.8 million cash option and remained anonymous, WJZ reported.
Wednesday’s $562 million estimate is smaller than that record, but it could rise if ticket sales pick up before the drawing. If nobody wins, the jackpot rolls to Saturday’s drawing.
Smaller Powerball prizes turn up around the state far more often. The Maryland Lottery has reported $50,000 Powerball winners on tickets sold in places such as Charles County and northern Calvert County, and those prizes are subject to the same withholding rules as a jackpot.
What should Marylanders keep in mind before buying tickets?
- Check tickets carefully. Smaller prizes are far more common than the jackpot, and unclaimed tickets expire after 182 days.
- Set a budget. With 1-in-292.2-million odds, a ticket is entertainment, not a financial plan.
- Get help if needed. Maryland’s problem gambling helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER.
Featured image: A Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot billboard. The figures shown are from a past drawing. Photo: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.