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(398)
Colorado's six holiday scratch-offs pay the same as every other ticket at their price, so the top prizes decide
Colorado's six holiday scratch-offs go on sale October 19. Every Colorado ticket at a given price pays back the same share, so the games differ only in top prizes and odds.
October 19, 2026
Powerball reached $600 million in 29 drawings, its second-fastest climb since the $20 million reset began in 2020
Powerball took 29 drawings to climb from $20 million to $607 million. The typical run since 2020 took 34 drawings, and only one, in 2023, was faster.
October 19, 2026
Salisbury woman wins $100,000 on a $30 scratch-off and plans to open her own hair salon
Lori Latham of Salisbury won the $100,000 top prize on a $30 Cash Payday scratch-off from an Asheboro gas station and wants to open her own hair salon. Fifty-three top prizes remain.
October 19, 2026
Maryland lottery winners now face 9.5% state tax withholding
Maryland withholds 9.5% state tax from residents and 8.75% from nonresidents on lottery prizes over $5,000, on top of 24% federal. Smaller wins are still taxable.
October 19, 2026
Wisconsin's holiday scratch-offs include a $15 ticket, just one of three sold anywhere in the US
Wisconsin put six holiday scratch-offs on sale in October, including Reindeer Countdown, a $15 ticket, a price only one other state sells. Merry Money, at $20, has two $200,000 top prizes.
October 18, 2026
An Anaheim 7-Eleven sold the $64 million "SuperLotto Plus" ticket, the game's first jackpot since March
A ticket sold at an Anaheim 7-Eleven won the $64 million SuperLotto Plus jackpot on October 17, the first since March 28. Three more tickets matched five numbers for $13,920 each.
October 18, 2026
Maryland's new $20 scratch-off pays at least $100 on every win, but only 1 in 8.74 tickets wins
The Maryland Lottery put six holiday scratch-offs on sale October 16. The $20 Win $100, $200 or $500 never pays less than $100, but only 1 in 8.74 tickets wins anything.
October 17, 2026
A law firm's trust claims $1 million on a $2,000,000 Stacked ticket sold in Massachusetts
A trust from a Hingham law firm claimed a $1 million prize on the $20 $2,000,000 Stacked scratch ticket, sold at a Gilbertville Cumberland Farms, and took $650,000 in cash.
October 17, 2026
Which Michigan scratch-offs win the most?
Michigan's pricier scratch-offs pay back about three points more than the national average, led by the $50 $8,000,000 Payout at 81.0%, and only 4 of its 107 games are out of top prizes.
October 17, 2026
Ohio couple thought they won $600,000 on a $50 scratch-off, it was actually $15 million
A Kent couple won $600,000 a year for 25 years on Ohio's $50 50th Anniversary scratch-off, bought at a Ravenna Circle K. They took $7.5 million in cash.
October 16, 2026
Rock Hill, South Carolina man stops for a $10 scratch-off after work and claims the first $500,000 "Triple Red 777" prize
A Rock Hill man bought a $10 Triple Red 777 scratch-off at Scotts Food Store on Heckle Boulevard after work and won the game's first $500,000 top prize. Four remain.
October 16, 2026
Georgia Lottery Diggi games: 165 online instant games, from 10 cents to $30 a play
Diggi is what the Georgia Lottery calls its online instant games. There are 165 of them, most playable from 50 cents, with top prizes up to $1 million and instant payouts up to $600.
October 16, 2026