Jessie Jurado
Jessie Jurado is a news writer who covers new scratch-off launches, state lottery guides, taxes on winnings, news, and much more. She joined ScratchCheck in 2026 and writes the site's state-by-state coverage.
Articles by Jessie Jurado(260)
A Wilkes County man won $1 million on a scratch-off and is putting it in a trust for his daughters
Michael Walsh of Boomer stopped for chicken wings in Lenoir and left with a $1 million scratch-off. He took the $600,000 lump sum, cleared $432,066, and is putting it in trust for his two daughters.
September 4, 2026
Michigan launched four new scratch-offs for September 2026
Michigan put four scratch-offs on sale September 1, from a $2 ticket to a $20 one. The $20 Triple Diamond Payout enters sixth in the state, and the four together show how steep Michigan’s price ladder is.
September 4, 2026
Massachusetts woman wins first $15 million scratch-off jackpot
Lori Morales of Springfield won the $15 million grand prize on the $30 Magnificent Millions ticket, bought at a Chicopee Cumberland Farms, and took $9.75 million in cash. Two grand prizes are still out.
September 4, 2026
Many scratch-offs advertise $1 million or more but pay it over 20 to 30 years
Ninety-three US scratch-offs put $1 million or more on the front and pay it out over 20 to 30 years. The cash option can be as little as 48% of the number on the ticket.
September 4, 2026
Someone finally won the $35.5 million Hoosier Lotto jackpot on a ticket sold in Washington, Indiana
A single ticket sold at a Casey’s in Washington, Indiana matched all six numbers in the September 2 Hoosier Lotto drawing to win $35.5 million, the game’s first jackpot since August 2025.
September 3, 2026
A Michigan man used his Sunday can-return money on a scratch-off and won $500,000
A 39-year-old Livingston County man returns cans every Sunday and buys lottery tickets with the money. This week one of them, a $5 Stampede Payout, paid $500,000.
September 3, 2026
New Hampshire launched five scratch-offs at once, and "Six Figures" is now the top game in the state
New Hampshire put five scratch-offs on sale September 3. The $10 Six Figures enters as the best-rated game in the state, the $5 Kaboom is fifth, and the $5 Patriots ticket tops out at $250.
September 3, 2026
What do Powerball winners actually win? We analyzed 1,398 drawings
We counted the winners in every Powerball drawing since 2015. An average drawing makes 614,000 winners, and 564,500 of them win exactly $4.
September 3, 2026
New Jersey lottery players won $5.3 million in one week, led by a $2.97 million courier ticket
Nineteen New Jersey players won at least $10,000 last week, $5,320,145 in all. The $2,975,145 Jersey Cash 5 jackpot came through the Jackpocket courier app and lists no store or town.
September 2, 2026
A Michigan woman is accused of passing stolen scratch-offs at three South Carolina stores in one day
SLED charged Keaysha Sincere Warren, 23, of Flint, Michigan with three felony counts. Warrants allege scratch-offs were taken from two South Carolina stores and passed at three others on June 22, 2025.
September 2, 2026
New Jersey launches "7's" scratch-off tickets, and one of them is the 2nd best game in the state
New Jersey put Sapphire, Emerald and Black Opal 7’s on sale, completing a $2 to $20 ladder with July’s Ruby 7’s. Black Opal enters at 92.0, second in the state.
September 2, 2026
Can a felon win and claim a lottery prize?
A criminal record does not disqualify a lottery winner. The prize is yours, though garnishment for restitution, child support or other debts can come out before the check.
September 2, 2026